Thread: Trump and Putin 'will try to mend ties', Kremlin says

Trump and Putin 'will try to mend ties', Kremlin says

11 minutes ago
From the section US & Canada

US President-elect Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin will try to "normalise US-Russia ties", the Kremlin has said, following a phone conversation between the two.

Mr Putin wished Mr Trump "success in implementing the election programme".

Mr Trump has expressed admiration for Mr Putin, saying he "has been a leader far more than our president".

Meanwhile President Barack Obama said Mr Trump had told him he remained "committed to a strong Nato".

'Pragmatic'

The Kremlin revealed Mr Trump and Mr Putin had discussed Syria and agreed that current Russian-US relations were "extremely unsatisfactory".

They also talked about the fact 2017 marked 210 years since the establishment of diplomatic relations between the countries "which in itself should stimulate a return to pragmatic, mutually beneficial co-operation".

Mr Putin and Mr Trump agreed to stay in touch by phone, and arrange to meet in person at a later date, the Kremlin added.

Mr Trump's election has seen a change in tone from Russia towards the US, with state TV channels quickly switching from claims of electoral fraud to hailing the triumph of the "man of the people".

During the election campaign, Mr Putin had called Mr Trump "a very outstanding person, talented without doubt".

Relations between the two countries have soured in recent years, despite President Obama starting his eight years in office by calling for a "reset" with one of the US' long-term rivals.

While Russia and the US have managed to work together on issues like North Korea and Iran, they have openly clashed on Syria.

Mr Obama has also condemned Russia's intervention on the side of pro-Russian rebels in eastern Ukraine, while Russia's decision to grant whistleblower Edward Snowden asylum infuriated Washington.

Mr Trump's rival for the presidency was no better liked in Moscow. Hillary Clinton was sharply critical of Russia's 2011 parliamentary elections, leading President Putin to accuse her of fomenting the mass protests against him that followed.

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-37981770

The main problem with Obama is he can't seem to ever get his ego out of the way. This was always his biggest enemy and he still doesn't know it. Trump will make peace and at least try to change the way we are viewed in the worlds eye . Apparently it has already started and the ignorant main stream media and the elected officials against him will look pretty stupid in the eyes of the world.