Strange warning from Putin to Trump: ‘You are not safe’

Russian President Vladimir Putin took the opportunity to praise “smart and experienced” Donald Trump but warned that the president-elect was “not safe” at a news conference at a security summit in Kazakhstan’s capital Astana on Thursday.

Describing Trump as “smart”, Putin used previous assassination attempts on Trump’s life and the treatment of him by his opponents as reasons to be cautious. Remarkably, Trump was injured during an operation. assassination attempt At a rally in Pennsylvania in July.

“What impresses me most is not that Donald Trump has more than once faced uncivilized methods, including assassination attempts,” Putin said. Associated Press.

The Russian President is accused of using murder to eliminate his political rivals. Former Russian spy Alexander Litvinenko claimed on his deathbed in 2006 that Putin had directly ordered his assassination. Litvinenko died in a London hotel bar after being poisoned by a cup of tea laced with polonium-210. Wagner chief Yevgeny Prigozhin died in a mysterious plane crash in 2023 after leading a rebellion by his forces. Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny died mysteriously in February while serving a 19-year prison sentence in a correctional colony.

“By the way, in my opinion, he is not safe even now,” Putin warned Trump. “But he is an intelligent and prudent man, I hope he is aware of all this.

The 72-year-old Russian President said he was appalled by the treatment of the Trump family, including his children, but did not name any names. He called it “disgusting” and claimed that even Russian “thugs” would not stoop this low. Reuters.

Putin continued: “Most importantly, I was shocked to see that he was not the only one facing humiliating and unfounded judicial procedures and accusations.” Putin continued.

Trump has repeatedly insisted he will end the war in Ukraine within 24 hours of his inauguration, but has refused to share further details.

Putin told reporters he believed that after going through “such a serious test” to “return to the White House”, the president-elect would “find a solution” while the war continues.

The comments indicate a warmer tone for the president-elect than for President Joe Biden, who has been slammed for creating “additional challenges” for the incoming administration — particularly by allowing Ukraine to fire longer-range ATACMS missiles inside Russia.