ISTANBUL

Russian President Vladimir Putin said Moscow is prepared for a third round of peace talks with Ukraine and welcomed the idea of meeting US President Donald Trump, describing him as a “courageous man.”

Addressing the press in Minsk, Putin confirmed that the heads of delegations are currently discussing the date for the next round of negotiations, while acknowledging that Ukraine and Russia have submitted “two directly opposing memoranda.”

However, he added, “this is not surprising,” emphasizing that the talks are designed to explore “ways to get closer.”

“We’ve already handed over more than 6,000 bodies (of Ukrainian soldiers) and are ready to transfer nearly 3,000 more. But it is up to the Ukrainian side to accept them,” Putin said.

Commenting on relations with Washington, the Russian leader said ties with the US are beginning to stabilize and that first steps in that direction have been taken.

“A meeting with Trump is entirely possible. We will gladly prepare for it,” he said. “He is a courageous man, that’s clear.”

Putin stressed that American businesses are signaling interest in returning to the Russian market. “We will only welcome this. It must be prepared thoroughly.”

He also discussed Russia’s defense spending, pegged at 13.5 trillion rubles ($171 billion), and claimed this investment supports the goal of completing the "special military operation" in Ukraine with a “favorable outcome,” not threatening Europe.

He said the Kremlin is considering gradual defense cuts over the next three years, while criticizing Europe’s plans to increase its own military budgets.

Responding to Western accusations of Russian aggression, Putin insisted that it was the West that acted aggressively, referencing the 2014 Ukrainian revolution.

“They carried out a coup, supported it, paid for it, then claimed Russia was behaving aggressively. Are they idiots, or do they take us for fools?”