Vladimir Putin Calls on Corporate America to Help Trump ‘on Behalf of Russia’

“Help us Restore Normal Political Dialogue”

At the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum on Friday, Russian President Vladimir Putin implored executives from major U.S. companies to help Donald Trump.

“Help us restore normal political dialogue. I ask you on behalf of Russia, and I appeal to the American side,” Putin said, “help the newly elected president, the head of the United States administration.”

CNN reported that the audience included senior executives from Boeing, Caterpillar, Chevron, Phillip Morris and Honeywell. CNN Moscow bureau producer Emma Burrows recorded the event:

CNN further reported that Putin discussed lost economic opportunities between the United States and Russia at the forum, with trade in goods between the countries falling over 40% between 2014 and 2016. He said that the loss “harms everyone” and that Russia is “ready to support bilateral business projects, that include equal, constructive partnership and cooperation.”

Putin insisted that he and Donald Trump “don’t know each other,” but that he views him as “a straight-forward, sincere man,” one that “you can’t really classify… as a traditional politician.”

“This is a person with a fresh view of things,” the Russian President said.

The comments came just one day after Putin suggested “patriotic hackers” from Russia may have meddled in the 2016 U.S. presidential election, and amidst the FBI investigation into the Trump administration’s possible collusion with Russian officials during the campaign.