This was reported by Glavpost, referencing the Telegram channel BILD in Russian.
The expert noted that such a congratulation appears to be a gesture indicating Russia's willingness to engage in communication. However, Alexashenko emphasized that personal meetings require more serious preparation than phone calls.
“A phone call is likely to happen soon, but it will only highlight issues without resolving them. Personal meetings address real problems, while phone contacts often resolve minor disagreements.
A meeting between Putin and Trump will not occur until both sides at least understand what they will discuss. Simply meeting is not enough. It is important to have at least some benchmarks for possible agreements,” the economist explained.
According to the analyst, a phone conversation between the leaders of the USA and Russia is expected to take place soon, but the actual meeting is likely to be postponed.
The further development of relations between the two countries depends on how quickly the leaders can establish a common agenda for dialogue. So far, the foreign policy priorities of the two countries remain different, complicating the negotiation process.
We also reported on what decrees Trump signed in the first hours after his inauguration.