“In a congratulatory message to President of the United States of America Donald Trump on the occasion of the Christmas and New Year holidays, Vladimir Putin emphasized that Russian-American relations are an essential factor in ensuring strategic stability and international security, and confirmed that Russia is open to dialogue with the United States on the widest possible agenda,” the Kremlin statement read.
The Kremlin said that former President George W. Bush was among the former heads of state to whom Putin had also sent a holiday message.
“I don’t know whether a meeting will happen,” Putin said. “On multiple occasions I’ve said I am willing to meet, we have a number of issues to discuss, including our bilateral agenda.”
Putin suggested that the pair’s ability to talk would be constrained when the Democrats take control of the US House of Representatives in January.
“Of course, now power in the Congress is changing and I’m sure that there will be more attacks on the President. Whether or not he will be able to have direct dialogue with Russia as a result of that, I don’t know,” he said.
G20 cancellation
The US President pinned the cancellation on Russia’s refusal to release Ukrainian Navy ships and sailors seized during a maritime confrontation between the two countries on November 25.
He similarly did not say whether Russia’s attempts to influence the 2016 presidential election would come up when the two leaders sat down to meet.
Source : Nbcnewyork