Putin Warms To Trump, Flexes Muscles On Syria
Faizan Hashmi Published December 23, 2016 | 08:10 PM
MOSCOW, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 23rd Dec, 2016 ) : Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday appeared to cosy up to US President-elect Donald Trump while asserting his authority as the key powerbroker in Syria.
At his annual end-of-year press conference, the confident Kremlin strongman praised Trump for tapping into the public mood in the US to claim his surprise win in November. "He went to the end, though nobody believed that he would win except us," Putin said.
Ties between Moscow and Washington hit their lowest point since the Cold War under President Barack Obama due to the Ukraine crisis and Russia's military intervention in Syria. But the election of Trump, who praised Putin as a strong leader, has provided a surprise fillip for the Kremlin, with the Russian economy still struggling due to Western sanctions and lower oil prices.
"Trump during the campaign was saying that he thinks it's right to normalise Russian-American ties and said it for sure won't get worse as it can't get any worse," Putin said. "I agree and together we'll think about how to make them better," he said, adding he would head to the US for talks if Trump invited him.
Officials in the US have accused Russia of cyber attacks aimed at interfering with the US vote, with some alleging Moscow sought to tip the balance in favour of Trump. Putin, however, backed Trump's rejection of the allegations, insisting "as the president-elect said entirely correctly, who knows who these hackers were?" The Russian leader also sought to play down a potential nuclear stand-off with the future US president, a day after they both pledged to bolster their nuclear capabilities.
Putin insisted there was "nothing unusual" about Trump's call in a tweet Thursday to bolster America's nuclear capability, hours after the Russian leader ordered his top brass to strengthen Moscow's "nuclear potential".
"We will never look to be dragged into an armed race and to spend resources that we can't afford," Putin said, after insisting he understood the US was the stronger military power but "we just say that we are stronger than any aggressor".
- 'Liberation' of Aleppo - ========================== While Putin was offering warm words for the incoming US leader, he was also flexing Russia's muscles as the key powerbroker on the conflict in Syria.
The Syrian army said late Thursday that it had retaken full control of Aleppo, scoring its biggest victory against opposition forces since the civil war erupted in 2011. "The liberation of Aleppo from radical elements is a very important part of the normalisation in Syria, and I hope, for the region overall," Putin told defence minister Sergei Shoigu in a meeting aired just as the press conference was starting.
Putin said later during his marathon press conference that he hoped that fresh peace talks could get all sides in the conflict to agree to a nationwide ceasefire. "The next step must be the conclusion of a ceasefire agreement on all of Syria's territory," he said.
Putin said that the presidents of Turkey, Iran and Syria had agreed to take part in new peace talks, which Russia had proposed take place in the Kazakh capital Astana. Moscow has been conducting an air campaign in Syria in support of long-time ally Assad since September 2015 and has taken steps to boost its presence in the country.
Russia forged a deal with Turkey -- which supports groups seeking to topple Assad -- that saw rebel fighters and civilians leave Aleppo. In another sign of strength, as he was addressing journalists, the Kremlin said Putin had signed an order to expand Russia's naval facility in the Syrian city of Tartus.
Russia's defence ministry said in October that Moscow was poised to transform the Tartus facility into a permanent base, without providing a timeline for its transformation.
Related Topics
Recent Stories
Currency Rate In Pakistan - Dollar, Euro, Pound, Riyal Rates On 8 May 2024
Today Gold Rate in Pakistan 08 May 2024
Delegation of international investors meets Finance Minister
Federal Govt stands with Balochistan for its development: Naqvi
UAE President receives condolences of Prime Minister of Pakistan over passing of ..
ECC approves to enhance wheat procurement targets
UN urges Israel to 'stop escalation' as tanks enter Gaza's Rafah city
EU stumps up $125 mn for Yemen after aid groups' plea
Governor Tessori condemns May 9 riots, calls it a 'pre-planned conspiracy'
PM condoles with UAE President over Sheikh Tahnoun’s death
Milan nets Giro 4th stage, Pogacar retains lead
UBS back in profit after Credit Suisse takeover losses
More Stories From World
-
150,000 people expected as Olympic flame arrives in France
5 seconds ago -
Pakistani beef promoted in Pakistan National Pavilion to tap China's market
10 minutes ago -
'A blessing': Rains refill Iraq's drought-hit reservoirs
10 minutes ago -
Is Brazil still the land of football?
20 minutes ago -
Toyota posts record yearly net income, revenue
20 minutes ago -
Top-seeded Celtics, Thunder win playoff openers
30 minutes ago
-
N. Macedonia polls set to upend ties with EU neighbours
30 minutes ago -
In Orban's Hungary, Xi to see China's best friend in EU
30 minutes ago -
Florida judge indefinitely postpones Trump documents trial
30 minutes ago -
'No one expected us' says Reus as Dortmund return to Wembley
30 minutes ago -
Brazilians queue for precious water as flood damage intensifies
30 minutes ago -
Milking venom from Australia's deadly marine animals
60 minutes ago