Vladimir Putin Wrote A Letter To George W. Bush…

Many world leaders have offered kind words to the Bush family and our country as a whole.

Trudeau:

George H. W. Bush’s exemplary service and deep commitment to his country informed everything he accomplished over his decades in public life. Sophie and I offer our condolences to his family and the American people on his passing.

— Justin Trudeau (@JustinTrudeau) December 1, 2018

Please read my full statement on the death of President George H. W. Bush: https://t.co/S8n1dP5Pid

— Justin Trudeau (@JustinTrudeau) December 1, 2018

“I am saddened to hear of the passing of President George H. W. Bush. On behalf of all Canadians, Sophie and I offer our deepest condolences to the Bush family and the many close friends who also continue to mourn the loss of his beloved wife, Barbara.

“George H. W. Bush’s lifetime of service began when he enlisted during the Second World War and became one of the youngest pilots in the U.S. Navy. His exemplary spirit of service and commitment to country would mark each of his roles – including in Congress, as ambassador to the United Nations, as head of the Central Intelligence Agency, and in the White House.

“President Bush was a dedicated and thoughtful leader who stuck by his convictions and values. He did much to strengthen relations between our two countries, championing the North American Free Trade Agreement and initiatives like the fight against acid rain.

“As president, he provided steady, principled leadership through a number of decisive international events.

“In his retirement from public life, President Bush remained unwavering in his service to others. He raised millions of dollars for charities related to cancer and child poverty, and made considerable contributions to disaster relief efforts in Southeast Asia and the U.S. Gulf Coast states.

“Today, all Canadians join our American friends and neighbours in mourning the loss of a great leader and friend. George H. W. Bush’s lifetime of public service has inspired a thousand points of light. His legacy will inspire many more.”

May:

President Bush was a true friend to the UK and the trusted counterpart and confidant of two Prime Ministers. His statesmanship, wisdom and friendship will be much missed and today we send our deepest condolences to his family and to the American people.

— Theresa May (@theresa_may) December 1, 2018

Macron:

On behalf of the French people, I convey all my condolences to the American nation for the loss of former President George Bush. He was a world leader, who strongly supported the alliance with Europe. Our sympathy to his family and beloved ones. https://t.co/U3qKLYjUJi

— Emmanuel Macron (@EmmanuelMacron) December 1, 2018

Netanyahu:

On behalf of the people of Israel, I send heartfelt condolences to the Bush family and the American people on the passing of a great American patriot, President George H.W. Bush.

— Benjamin Netanyahu (@netanyahu) December 1, 2018

His wise leadership at the end of the Cold War helped steer the world to a peaceful transition and the spread of democracy.

— Benjamin Netanyahu (@netanyahu) December 1, 2018

The people of Israel will always remember his commitment to Israel’s security, his important contribution to the liberation of Soviet Jewry, and his efforts to achieve peace in the Middle East at the Madrid Conference.

— Benjamin Netanyahu (@netanyahu) December 1, 2018

And so on.

I have to say, I wasn’t expecting anything from Vladimir Putin. He addressed a letter directly to George W. Bush.

“Please, accept my deepest condolences on the death of your father, George Herbert Walker Bush, former president of the United States. An outstanding man, who has faithfully served his country all his life – with a weapon in his hands during the war and in senior government positions during peaceful times – is no longer with us,” Putin wrote.

“Realizing the significance of the constructive dialogue between the two major nuclear powers, George Bush Sr. did much to strengthen Russian-American relations and cooperation on international security issues,” he continued.

“Many of my memories are linked to him. We happened to work together in years of great changes. It was a dramatic time demanding huge responsibility from everyone. The result was the end of the Cold War and the nuclear arms race,” he added.

“I pay tribute to George Bush’s contribution toward this historic achievement. He was a genuine partner.”

Here’s the full letter:

President Putin's letter to President George W. Bush on the death of his father, President George H.W. Bush. pic.twitter.com/4q6v5EzIYV

— NBC News (@NBCNews) December 1, 2018

Nice, but unexpected, right?