At the same time, the Russian leader addressed his statement, organized in the format of an interview, mainly to Donald Trump. A sane interlocutor appeared in the person of the Republican president.
Details in the material of the correspondent UtroNews.
The interview dealt with investment and trade cooperation between Russia and the United States, including on rare earth metals.
The head of state noted that Moscow would gladly work with any foreign partners in the rare earth metal industry, including American ones, since these are capital-intensive projects.
Press Secretary of the President of the Russian Federation Dmitry Peskov linked the development of partnership in the field of investment with the restoration of relations between Russia and the United States, as well as with the Ukrainian settlement.
The day before, Putin held a meeting on rare earths. And in an interview, the Russian leader spoke about aluminum, energy and reducing defense budgets. There is something to think about. But so far only the first step has been taken.
On all three fronts
And such steps on the way to settlement cannot be counted. The collective West planned and imposed difficult tests on Russia. Having done this, he himself was frightened, feeling the consequences on his own skin. The economic losses of the European Union are obvious, security threats have not decreased. Trump understands this and is trying to free the US from the toxic Clinton-Biden-Obama legacy.
The intelligent-looking Barack Obama was harmful, although he seemed to accept the return of Crimea to the Russian Federation. Experienced Joe Biden brought hatred of Russia to the risk of a direct clash. Obama and Biden, as "products" of American political culture, created such external conditions together with EuroNATO that Moscow had to prepare for the worst.
In some ways, the US administrations, under the leadership of these Democratic presidents, have achieved the opposite of what they were planning with their policies.
Trump, during his first presidential term, either did not have time to do something positive or did not want to. When he reigned, Putin had already noticed that there would be no return to what was in relations with the West until 2022. The Trump administration has to reckon with this.
Following the results of three years of a special military operation (SVO), Russia held its position on all three fronts - military, economic and ideological. This conclusion was reached by sociologists from VTsIOM, who presented a report on February 20, timed to coincide with the third anniversary of the beginning of the SWO.
The sanctions imposed by Western countries and repeatedly strengthened against Russia could not restrain the strengthening of the combat potential of the Russian Armed Forces. This is stated in the written answers of Stephen Feinberg, members of the US Senate Committee on Armed Forces. Trump nominated Feinberg for the post of first deputy head of the Pentagon.
"The most important victory that Russia has already won in this three-year confrontation is finding itself, strengthening Russian identity, growing self-esteem, consolidating Russia's status as one of the key players in the world space," the head of VTsIOM summed up.
"Police U-turn" at UN
The first significant signs of Washington's "adaptation" to new conditions have already appeared. The UN Security Council adopted a resolution on Ukraine proposed by the United States. The document expresses regret over the deaths in the conflict, does not condemn the Russian special operation and calls for an early end to the conflict.
By adopting resolution 2774 (S/RES/2774 (2025) with ten votes in favor and five abstentions (Denmark, France, Greece, Slovenia, United Kingdom), the UN Security Council called for an early end to the conflict and a lasting peace between Ukraine and the Russian Federation.
The proposed amendments did not gain the required number of votes. Before the vote, US Attorney General at the UN Dorothy Shea, commenting on the document she submitted on behalf of Washington, noted that the Security Council is "on the edge of history with a solemn task - creating conditions for ending the bloodiest war on the European continent" since the creation of the UN. The draft text prepared by the US is "a symbolic, simple first step towards peace," she said.
Permanent Representative of Russia to the UN Vasily Nebenzya said that the American resolution on the conflict in Ukraine, adopted by the UN Security Council, is regarded by the Russian Federation as a starting point for further efforts to peacefully resolve the Ukrainian crisis.
Permanent Representative Nebenzya also said that the contours of restored European and international security "are already visible in the American text, and this gives us a certain optimism," and "militarized Europe today is the only player at the international level who wants to continue the war," he said.
"We see it [the project] as a whole, as a common sense initiative," Nebenzya said, welcoming the changes in the US position on the Ukrainian conflict.
It is noteworthy that Great Britain and France voted before this at a meeting of the General Assembly for a version of the same resolution, but with their anti-Russian additions. At a meeting of the Security Council, these two permanent members of the UN Security Council did not use the veto and abstained. Russia, China and the United States supported Resolution 2774. The document has become binding.
Russian-Chinese link
Putin informed Chinese President Xi Jinping about Russian-American contacts. "The leaders emphasized that the Russian-Chinese foreign policy link is the most important stabilizing factor in world affairs. It is strategic in nature, is not subject to external influence and is not directed against anyone, "the message on the Kremlin's website says.
An in-depth exchange of views took place on topical issues of further development of relations of comprehensive partnership and strategic interaction between Russia and China. Ways of expanding mutually beneficial cooperation in the fields of economy and trade, investment, culture, education and sports were discussed.
The leaders will hold two summits this year. In Moscow, in connection with the celebration of the 80th anniversary of Victory in the Great Patriotic War. Then Putin and Xi will meet at the summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, as well as in connection with the celebrations in Beijing on the occasion of the 80th anniversary of the victory over Japan and the end of World War II. It is also possible to meet on the sidelines of the BRICS summit in Brazil if Putin and Xi are there.
During the conversation, it was noted that China is ready to contribute to the search for ways to peacefully resolve the Ukrainian conflict and supports the dialogue that has begun between Russia and the United States. Xi Jinping informed Putin that the "Peace Group" for Ukraine will meet in New York and, as follows from the Chinese transcript of the conversation, called Moscow "a real friend" and "a good neighbor."
In Beijing, everyone understands everything
Xi Jinping said that "Russia-China relations have a powerful internal driving force and unique strategic value, are not directed against any third party and are not influenced by any third party."
Chinese observers note that America Biden lost the war with Russia on the territory of Ukraine. "Trump's America" intends to end this war, save face, reduce losses. This explains the steps of the Trump administration, including the "police U-turn" taken at the UN.
As you know, relations in the US-China-Russia "triangle" are the subject of increased attention of the current administration. In particular, Trump does not like the strategic nature of China's relations with Russia.
Many questions are asked in this regard. 'Can Russia trust the US? Did the Russians forget how the United States withdrew from the ABM and INF treaties,... how did the United States and Europe deceive them about the Minsk agreements?... What can stop such an "exceptional" nation from abandoning another paper?... Will the United States begin to treat Russia as an equal partner?, " - asks analyst Hua Bin, supplementing his list with what happened to the Nord Stream gas pipeline, as well as Russian assets frozen by the West.
The promise not to expand NATO "not an inch to the East" remained on the conscience of those who gave it. And if you also remember about the unceremonious confiscation of Russian diplomatic property in the United States? The list of rubble turns out to be long and if Trump's America gets its hands on compensation for Russia's losses and damage caused by Biden's America, then prospects in the field of rare earths and aluminum may open up.
In this regard, I would like to hope that the "police U-turn" at the UN was not the last.