Putin says change in US president will not change attitude of their elites toward Russia

By Burc Eruygur

ISTANBUL (AA) - Russian President Vladimir Putin said a change of president in the US will not change the attitude of their elites toward his country.

"You asked me just now: will another leader come and change something? It’s not about the leader’s personality—it’s about the mood of the elites,” Putin said during an interview with former Fox News host Tucker Carlson in Moscow aired late Thursday,

Stressing that defeating Russia on the battlefield is "impossible," Putin said he has nothing to talk about with US President Joe Biden due to Washington's supply of weapons to Ukraine.

Putin further said that Russia is ready to resolving the issue surrounding the detaining of Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich but there are "certain conditions" being discussed through "partner channels between the intelligence services."

"It seems to me that this can be agreed upon,” he said.

Putin also commented on the situation in Ukraine, saying that Moscow and Kyiv will come to an agreement "sooner or later," reiterating that Russia does not refuse conducting negotiations.

Defining Ukraine as a "satellite" of the US, Putin said Ukraine's leadership refused to negotiate with Russia based on "instructions from Washington" and that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy legally prohibited himself from talking with Russia.

"He signed a decree prohibiting everyone from negotiating with Russia. But how will we negotiate if he forbade himself and forbade everyone?" he said.

He added that Moscow has no territorial claims to Poland, Latvia or any other country.