Trump says he will seek improved Russia relations but could fail

In his first press conference since being elected U.S. president, Donald Trump said on Jan. 11 that he would seek positive relations with the Russian government but left open the possibility that he could fail. “If Putin likes Donald Trump, that’s an asset, not a liability,” Trump said. “I don’t know that I’m going to get along with Vladimir Putin. I hope I do, but there’s a good chance that I won’t.”

Trump said he is not attempting the same reset with Russia that was tried by Hillary Clinton in 2009, when she was U.S. secretary of state. “There’s no reset button,” he said. “We’re either going to get along, or we’re not. I hope we get along, but if not, that’s possible too. Russia will respect us far more than past administrations.”

Zenon Zawada: Trump leaving open the possibility that he will fail in establishing new relations with Russia dispels the claims that he is on the Kremlin’s payroll (in one way or another), which are being highly circulated in the media but yet to be backed by evidence.

Any business person would appreciate attempts to find peace and stop the bloodshed in eastern Ukraine, which will improve the Ukrainian economy and business conditions. Of course, the question is the cost of this peace and Trump so far has shown that he won’t give up as much as those like Marine Le Pen, who is willing to surrender Crimea entirely.