Russian President Vladimir Putin congratulated Donald Trump on his second inauguration, expressing support for Trump's commitment to restore direct communications with Russia.

Axar.az, citing Euronews, reports that during a meeting with Russia's Security Council, Putin emphasized the importance of reestablishing contacts, which were interrupted by the previous US administration. He also welcomed Trump's pledge to take necessary steps to prevent a third world war, describing this approach as a positive development for international relations.

Putin further expressed readiness to engage in talks on resolving the ongoing Ukraine conflict, a matter Trump has vowed to address.

Ahead of his inauguration, Trump indicated plans for a meeting with Putin to discuss the war in Ukraine, reflecting his ongoing efforts to broker peace. Trump's previous summit with Putin in 2018 had seen a warming of relations between the two leaders.