"And we see statements by the newly elected President of the United States and members of his team about the desire to restore direct contacts with Russia, interrupted through no fault of our own by the outgoing Administration. We also hear his statements about the need to do everything to prevent a third world war. Of course, we welcome this attitude and congratulate the elected President of the United States of America on taking office, "Putin said.
Restore US reputation
In his inaugural speech, Trump noted the global changes that are launching America's "golden age" and harshly criticized the Biden administration, which, he said, destroyed the US reputation in the eyes of the whole world, UtroNews reports.
"As we gather here today, our government is facing a crisis of confidence. For years, the radical and corrupt establishment took power and wealth from our citizens, while the foundations of our society were destroyed and seemed to fall into complete disrepair.
Now we have a government that cannot cope even with a simple crisis at home and at the same time faces a constant stream of catastrophic events abroad.
It does not protect our magnificent, law-abiding American citizens, but it provides sanctuary and protection to dangerous criminals, many of whom have come out of prisons and mental institutions and illegally entered our country from all over the world.
We have a government that allocates unlimited funds to protect foreign borders, but refuses to protect American borders or, more importantly, its own people.... Today I will sign a number of historical decrees. Through these actions, we will begin a full American recovery and a common-sense revolution. It's all about common sense, "Trump said.
His 29-minute speech was interrupted about fifty times by applause, with those present giving a standing ovation. At the inauguration dinner, sparkling Korbel Russian River Valley Natural ("Russian River Valley") was served for dessert. The Russian River district of Sonoma County is located in California, 80 kilometers north of San Francisco.
The Fort Ross Museum is also located there, which has preserved traces of the Russian military settlement (1812-1841). The fort was founded by a Russian-American company to supply food to Russian settlements in Alaska.
Strategic geometry...
In the two centuries since then, the United States has changed, bought Alaska, mastered California, acquired the status of a nuclear superpower, although it lost first place to China in the beginning of the 21st century as the world's leading economy, if you count in purchasing power parity (PPP).
Russia, having gone through devastating wars, revolutions and the collapse of the USSR, did not lag behind. The Russian Federation was ahead of the United States in the field of strategic offensive arms, took the fourth place in the world in terms of the size of the economy (according to PPP).
Moscow and Beijing have established a relationship of "comprehensive partnership and strategic interaction entering a new era." The relationship of these two "more than partners" of the neighboring powers with the United States is difficult to give an unambiguous or exhaustive definition. Both Russia and China have their own relations with America, complex and changing in a wide range from distrust and confrontation to interdependence and interaction.
Russia is interested in ending the conflict with NATO countries, which will soon take three years, as it proceeds on the territory of Ukraine. Moscow is ready to restore direct contacts with Washington, supports Trump's statements about the need to prevent a third world war.
"We are open to dialogue with the new US administration on the Ukraine conflict," Putin said. "Its goal should not be a short truce, not some kind of respite for the regrouping of forces and rearmament with a view to the subsequent continuation of the conflict, but long-term peace based on respect for the legitimate interests of all people, all peoples who live in this region."
… received another confirmation
Perhaps it is no coincidence that the day after Trump's inauguration, Vladimir Putin held talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping via videoconference. The Chinese leader announced cooperation within the UN, SCO, BRICS and other international platforms, "which brings more positive energy to reforming and improving the global governance system."
This year, Xi said, is marked by the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese people in the War of Resistance to the Japanese invaders, the victory of the Soviet Union in the Great Patriotic War and the victory in the World Anti-Fascist War, as well as the 80th anniversary of the UN.
Together with our Russian colleagues, in this context, we will support the onocentric international system, defend the victory in World War II, obtained by the blood and lives of millions of people who defended the rights of China and Russia as founding countries of the UN and permanent members of the Security Council, continued the chairman of the PRC.
"In the new year, I am ready, together with you, to bring Sino-Russian relations to a new height, to confront external uncertainty on the basis of maintaining stability and stress resistance of Sino-Russian relations - in the name of the development and prosperity of the two countries, international justice and equality," Xi said.
Putin responded by saying that "the basis of cooperation between Moscow and Beijing is a broad commonality of national interests and a coincidence of views on what relations between major powers should be. We build our ties on the basis of friendship, mutual trust and support, equality and mutual benefit.
These ties are self-sufficient, independent of domestic political factors and the current world situation. Their comprehensive strengthening fully meets the tasks of the integrated development of Russia and China, improving the well-being of the peoples of both countries.
… We can say with confidence that the foreign policy relationship, the joint work of Russia and China objectively plays an important stabilizing role in international affairs.... we are preparing to adequately celebrate the 80th anniversary of the Great Victory. The memory of her is sacred for the peoples of our countries, who waged a bloody struggle against the aggressors and defeated the enemy at the cost of innumerable victims. The ideology of fascism, Nazism and militarism cannot be allowed to raise its head again. It is important, together with our other like-minded people, to carefully preserve and defend the historical truth, "the President of Russia said.
"I want to be a peacemaker"
Trump also spoke about US participation in world wars, promised to create the strongest army,... "evaluate success not only on battles won, but also on wars that we will end - and, perhaps most importantly, on wars that we will never enter. My proudest legacy will be becoming a peacemaker and unifier. That's who I want to be: a peacemaker and a unifier, "the US president said as he took office.
In one of his first executive orders, Trump ordered the secretary of state to issue an executive order "according to which the policies, programs, personnel and activities of the State Department will be brought into line with the America First policy, which puts America and its interests first."
From the point of view of Russia's interests, Trump's intention to talk with President Putin could be "one of his first steps," said former member of the House of Representatives Ronald Ernest Paul. "There are good reasons for cautious optimism, especially when comparing Trump to his predecessor," he says.
"This is great news for all of humanity, since Biden's dangerous proxy war in Ukraine and his refusal to communicate with the President of Russia have led us to the very edge, namely to the once unimaginable exchange of nuclear strikes. When the end of life on Earth was at stake, it is reckless to ignore the possibility of de-escalation, "Ron Paul wrote about this.
It is known that in relation to China, Trump's appointees to positions in the field of foreign policy and national security are quite militant. They are likely to push the president into confrontation. Some hope for "common sense" came from the initiative to invite Chinese President Xi Jinping to the inauguration, as well as Trump's conversation with the Chinese leader on the phone on the eve of taking office.
In the Middle East, the new president is credited with a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, which the Biden administration was unable to do. "Thousands of people were killed while Biden hesitated and sent Israel more and more arms shipments. The complete destruction of the Gaza Strip by American bombs with US financial support tarnished both Biden and all those who participated in this, "Ron Paul said.
Finally, isolating Iran, as it used to be, is now impossible. As with China, with Iran it would be much "better to chat than to fight." "Let's hope that President Trump understands this," says the Republican politician, wise by his great life and political experience.