Putin congratulates Trump ahead of inauguration

Russian President Vladimir Putin congratulated U.S. President-elect Donald Trump ahead of his inauguration on Monday and expressed his willingness to engage in dialogue with the incoming White House administration.

“We hear Trump’s statements on the need to prevent World War III. We undoubtedly welcome such a disposition and congratulate the elected U.S. president,” Putin said during a televised session of Russia’s Security Council, the Moscow Times reports.

“We see Trump’s and his team’s statements on their wish to restore direct contacts with Russia, which the outgoing Biden administration had cut off through no fault of our own,” Putin said.