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Russian President Vladimir Putin reiterated on Thursday that his government is willing to to cooperate with U.S. president-elect Donald Trump, especially in the field of fighting against international terrorism.
"We don't want confrontation with anyone. We don't need it. We are not seeking and have never sought enemies," Putin said in his annual Federal Assembly address at the Kremlin. "We need friends. We are ready to cooperate with the new U.S. administration. We have a shared responsibility to ensure international security."
That was a reference to Syria, where Moscow started its military campaign last year following a request from the government of Syrian President Bashar Assad, while the outgoing U.S. president Barack Obama has been supporting and funding anti-Assad rebels.
Putin added that it is important to normalize and develop bilateral relations on an equal and mutually beneficial basis, noting that such cooperation between the two powers would be in the interest of the whole world. “We share responsibility for ensuring international security and stability,” he stressed.
Russia and Putin were one of the hottest topics discussed in this election cycle, with Trump's defeated opponent Hillary Clinton openly blaming the Kremlin for an scandal of leaked emails concerning the former secretary of state’s bid for the White House — a claim never proven.
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