The Russian president believes his US counterpart is in a "unique position" to act openly and directly

US President Donald Trump has stated that Russian President Vladimir Putin treated him with "great respect" and expressed a clear desire to end the ongoing conflict in Ukraine while also reaching a deal to normalize trade and other relations between Washington and Moscow.

Contacts between the two nations, largely nonexistent for years, intensified after Trump was inaugurated on January 20. A phone call between Trump and Putin on February 12 was followed by high-level Russia-US talks in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, last week. Putin described the discussions as "the first step" toward normalizing relations, a view Trump echoed on Monday.

"Before I came here, there was no communication with Russia whatsoever... But when I got here, one of the first calls I made was to President Putin, and we were treated with great respect. They want to end this war, so that's a big thing," Trump said at a press conference following his meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron.

"I think it's very much to Russia's benefit to make a deal and to go on with leading Russia in a very positive way," the US leader added. "I mean, that's what I do. I do deals. My whole life is deals... And I know when somebody wants to make it and when somebody doesn't."

Trump later reinforced his position in a post on Truth Social: "I am in serious discussions with President Vladimir Putin of Russia concerning the ending of the war, and also major economic development transactions that will take place between the United States and Russia. Talks are proceeding very well!"

When asked to comment on Trump's claim of "major transactions" between Russia and the US, Putin told Russia 1 TV journalist Pavel Zarubin on Monday that discussions were indeed taking place.

"Yes, some of our companies are in contact with each other and are discussing such projects," the Russian leader said without elaborating. Putin added that Moscow is prepared to work with Washington in developing rare earth mineral deposits, including those in the Donetsk and Lugansk People's Republics, as well as the Kherson and Zaporozhye regions. At the same time, he noted that the rare earth deal Trump's administration is negotiating with Kiev "doesn't concern" Moscow, as the actual value of Ukraine's mineral deposits remains uncertain.

The Russian president said his direct communications with Trump, along with the meeting in Riyadh, have so far been focused on "increasing the level of trust" between the two countries. According to Putin, Trump "acts straightforwardly and without any particular embarrassment."

"He is in a unique position: he doesn't just say what he thinks, he says what he wants. That's the privilege of being the leader of one of the big, great powers," Putin added.