Putin Says Russia Is Open to Dialogue on Ukraine With Trump (2)

President Vladimir Putin said Russia’s ready for talks with the US on the war in Ukraine as he offered congratulations to Donald Trump on his inauguration as president.

“We congratulate the US president-elect on taking office,” Putin said Monday at a televised meeting of his security council ahead of the inauguration in Washington. Russia welcomed Trump’s desire to restore direct contacts and his statements on the need to prevent a third world war, he said.

Donald Trump with Vladimir Putin in Helsinki, 2018.

Photographer: Chris Ratcliffe/Bloomberg

“We are open to dialogue with the new US administration on the Ukrainian conflict,” Putin said. “Its goal should not be a short truce, ...