However, at the same time, the Russian president "made it clear that Russia is not going to run after the West to restore relations, but the door is open if that's the choice that the West wants to make," the leading British scholar on Soviet diplomatic and military history underscored.
“Of course you've got hardliners, extremists in the West whose ears are closed to any kind of constructive relationship with Russia... But I think there are people who want to hear this message,” he remarked.
"[Vladimir Putin] said that if Trump wants to improve relations, he is open to it," Roberts said after attending Putin's speech and a Q&A session at the Valdai Club.
"He's responding on the spot to comments, statements, questions that the people at the meeting, the members of the Valdai Club, are making. I can't think of any other political leader in the world who could perform in that kind of way," Roberts remarked.