Putin Says Russia Has ‘Many Friends’ in U.S. Who Can Mend Relations
4, 2017
MOSCOW — President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia said on Wednesday
that relations with America had "become hostage to the internal political situation in the U.S.," but that his country had many friends in the United States who can help improve relations between the two nations when the political tensions in America settle down.
Speaking about his personal relationship with President Trump on Wednesday, Mr. Putin said
that there was basically "none." "We have met only once, and spoke on the phone several times on several issues that are of mutual interest," Mr. Putin said.
"We are patiently waiting until this process in the internal political life in America will end." Ties between Moscow and Washington have ebbed and flowed since President Trump took office, despite Russian lawmakers’ Champagne toast after election night in hopes
that Mr. Trump would make significant moves in Russia’s favor.
Many in Russia had hoped that Mr. Trump would lift the sanctions imposed by the United States over Moscow’s decision to annex Crimea and destabilize Ukraine, and
that he would give Russia a free hand to act in the former Soviet republics.
Moscow said that Certain forces use the Russian-American ties to solve internal political problems in the U.S.,
" he said at the forum. that We have many friends in America who want to develop ties with us,
Russian said that I believe that such a person like Mr. Trump, with his character, will never be hostage to someone’s interests,
