Putin names conditions for improving relations with the US — ISW

Russian dictator Vladimir Putin is seeking to reset Russian-American relations on his own terms during Donald Trump's presidency. In particular, he wants Western sanctions lifted.

This is stated in a report by analysts of the Institute for the Study of War.

Resetting relations between the US and Russia

"Putin is trying to influence the foreign policy of US President-elect Donald Trump and achieve another reset of Russian-American relations on Russia's terms," the ISW report says.

It is noted that the Kremlin leader spoke at the 21st annual meeting of the Valdai Discussion Club and called for a reset of Russian-American relations.

The head of the aggressor state said that the Trump team had expressed "a desire to restore relations with Russia, to help put an end to the Ukrainian crisis". Also, according to Putin, Russia is open to "the possibility of restoring relations with the United States".

The Russian dictator also accused Washington of undermining Russian-American relations. He noted that the United States had imposed sanctions and restrictions on Moscow and decided to support Kyiv.

The dictator missed the point that if there had been no attack on Ukraine, there would have been no sanctions against Russia.

"Putin's statement implies that Russia will agree to a reset of Russian-American relations only if the United States lifts sanctions and restrictions against Russia and stops supporting Ukraine," American analysts emphasize.

In fact, according to ISW, Putin expects the United States to compromise its own interests in order to improve relations with Russia.

Earlier, we wrote that Putin is in favor of peace talks with Ukraine. However, he wants "favorable conditions" and again called Ukrainians a "brotherly people".

Putin's spokesman Peskov also said that the dictator might soon have a conversation with Donald Trump before his inauguration, but that no organizational work had been done.