Russian President Vladimir Putin gave a colorful press conference while attending a summit in Xiamen, China, on Tuesday. He confirmed President Trump is "not my bride, and I'm also not his bride or groom," labeling questions over whether he is disappointed in Trump's behavior so far "very naive." "Trump is guided by the national interests of his country, and I by mine," he said. "I very much hope that we will be able, as the current U.S. president has said, to reach some compromise in resolving bilateral and international problems."
The Russian leader also weighed in on North Korea's nuclear ambitions, arguing that layering new sanctions on the already-isolated country would be "useless and ineffective." The Kim Jong Un regime will let North Koreans "eat grass, but they won't abandon their [nuclear] program unless they feel secure," Putin said, suggesting negotiations offering Pyongyang security guarantees could be a better route to a "peaceful, diplomatic resolution" that avoids the "global catastrophe and a huge number" of civilian casualties war would inevitably produce.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
-
Foreigners in Spain facing a 100% tax on homes as the country battles a housing crisisUnder the Radar The goal is to provide 'more housing, better regulation and greater aid,' said Spain's prime minister
-
Crossword: January 22, 2025The Week's daily crossword
-
Codeword: January 22, 2025The Week's daily codeword puzzle
-
Trump starts term with spate of executive ordersSpeed Read The president is rolling back many of Joe Biden's climate and immigration policies
-
Trump pardons or commutes all charged Jan. 6 riotersSpeed Read The new president pardoned roughly 1,500 criminal defendants charged with crimes related to the Capitol riot
-
Will Trump's 'madman' strategy pay off?Today's Big Question Incoming US president likes to seem unpredictable but, this time round, world leaders could be wise to his playbook
-
DeSantis appoints Florida's top lawyer to US SenateSpeed Read The state's attorney general, Ashley Moody, will replace Sen. Marco Rubio in the Senate
-
Pam Bondi downplays politics at confirmation hearingSpeed Read Trump's pick for attorney general claimed her Justice Department would not prosecute anyone for political reasons
-
Biden warns of oligarchy in farewell addressSpeed Read The president issued a stark warning about the dangers of unchecked power in the hands of the ultra-wealthy
-
Hegseth boosts hopes for confirmation amid grillingSpeed Read The Senate held confirmation hearings for Pete Hegseth, Trump's Defense Secretary nominee
-
Biden removes Cuba from terrorism blacklistSpeed read The move is likely to be reversed by the incoming Trump administration, as it was Trump who first put Cuba on the terrorism blacklist in his first term
