Russian
President Vladimir Putin issued holiday greetings to dozens of global leaders
Sunday, and President Donald Trump made his list.
Putin
said relations between the U.S.and Russia are the key to "ensuring
strategic stability and international security." Putin added that Russia
is "open to dialogue with the United States on the most extensive
agenda."
Putin
issued a similar note to Trump last year, urging equality in bilateral
relations that would allow "progress in promoting pragmatic cooperation
designed for the long term.”
That
progress has been slow. Scores of Russian diplomats were expelled this year in
response to the poisoning of a former Russian spy in Britain that was linked to
the Kremlin. And special counsel Robert Mueller's investigation of Russian interference in the
U.S. election has brought scrutiny on communications between Trump's inner
circle and Russian operatives.
This
year's one-sentence nod to Trump was released by the Kremlin, wedged between a
note to Queen Elizabeth and Theresa May and one to Pope Francis. Putin wished
the Britons health and happiness and expressed a hope for stronger relations
with the Vatican "to uphold the ideals of justice and peace in the world
and to promote dialogue between various religions."
Putin
didn't forget Syria, in the midst of a disastrous and deadly civil war that
again drew the global spotlight this month. Trump announced the last U.S.
troops would be pulled out, a decision that drew accolades from Putin. The
Russian president's holiday greeting for Syrian President Bashar al-Assad
promised "all-round assistance" for his government and people
"in their fight against terrorism and efforts to protect state sovereignty
and territorial integrity."
Turkish
President Recep Tayyip Erdogan made Putin's list, but Iranian President Hassan
Rouhani, another key player in Syria, was not mentioned in the Kremlin release.
Israel's
Benjamin Netanyahu got a shout-out, with Putin suggesting that Israel and
Russia will develop relations "for the benefit of the peoples of both
states and in the interest of strengthening peace, security and stability in
the Middle East."
China's
Xi Jinping drew New Year and the Spring Festival greetings, too. Putin said the
two nations' "trust-based partnership" has reached an
"unprecedented" level.