Donald Trump (left) and Russian President Vladimir Putin attend a joint news conference after meeting at the presidential palace in Helsinki on July 16, 2018.
Yuri Kadobunov | AFP | Getty Images
The Kremlin said Russian President Vladimir Putin had no immediate plans to congratulate Donald Trump, who was elected president in the United States on Wednesday, but senior Russian officials pointed to the Republican victory as a “reset” in relations.
“I was not aware of the president’s plans to congratulate Trump on his election,” Kremlin press secretary Dmitry Peskov told reporters on Wednesday, according to comments on Google Translate. National news agency Interfax.
“Let us not forget that we are talking about an unfriendly country that is directly or indirectly involved in a war against our country,” he added.
Peskov was reportedly asked later if he thought Trump might be offended if Putin did not congratulate him on his victory and whether that would worsen already poor relations between Russia and the United States.
“Things cannot realistically get worse; relations between the two countries are at an all-time low. What happens next will depend on the next U.S. leader. President Putin has repeatedly said that he is committed to a constructive approach based on justice, equality and will.” The dialogue is open and President Putin remains open to taking each other’s concerns into account.
“Right now, the U.S. government is flatly opposed. We’ll see what happens in January,” he added.
The Kremlin’s reaction came after Trump declared victory in the presidential election earlier on Wednesday, as he prepares to secure all 270 Electoral College votes needed to win the White House. Since then, NBC News has elected him president-elect, putting him on the path to becoming the 47th president.th President of the United States.
On November 6, 2024, Republican presidential candidate and former U.S. President Trump held hands with his wife Melania at a rally at the Palm Beach County Convention Center in West Palm Beach, Florida, the United States.
Brian Snyder | Reuters
Moscow sees a Trump victory as a positive because of the negative impact it could have on Ukraine, given Republican hostility to Kyiv’s ongoing military aid package and the foreign policy stance under Trump that puts U.S. interests first .Trump may also seek to push Ukraine into peace talks with Russia.
Earlier today, Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky congratulated Donald Trump as the US politician appeared to be on the verge of winning the vote in what was seen as a courageous display of victory over the Republican Party. for military aid to Kiev and potentially bad consequences.
Russian President Vladimir Putin and Trump appeared to maintain friendly relations during the latter’s term as U.S. president from 2017 to 2021. The relationship was embroiled in controversy after allegations that Trump’s then-presidential campaign colluded with Russia, which was accused of interfering in the 2016 election.
Both leaders deny any conspiracy to influence the vote, and Subsequent investigations found no evidence Trump had criminal collusion with Russia. The investigation has not concluded whether Trump obstructed justice.
Aerial view of Moscow Kremlin landmarks: Saint Basil’s Cathedral, Kremlin, Spasskaya Tower and Red Square
Sergey Alimov | Moment | Getty Images
In the run-up to the 2024 presidential election, Russia has sought to downplay its interest in the vote, particularly in a victory for Trump – who analysts say is most likely Moscow’s chosen candidate.
Back in February, Putin said he preferred current White House leader Joe Biden – then up for re-election on behalf of the Democratic Party – to be the next U.S. president, saying he was more experienced and predictable. “politician”.
In June, Putin told reporters that Biden was “an old-school politician” while downplaying his support for the Trump campaign, saying, “We never had any special relationship with Mr. Trump, but the fact is Still, as president, he began imposing massive sanctions on Trump.
Warm up for Trump
While it is highly likely that Putin will eventually comment on Trump’s election victory and congratulate him when it is confirmed, other Russian officials have signaled that the vote was a sign of a possible realignment of relations between Washington and Moscow. An opportunity.
Former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, a prominent Russia hawk, commented that Trump may seek to reduce military funding to Ukraine – which is crucial as Kyiv continues to fight back against the Russian invasion.
“Trump has a quality that works for us: as a businessman through and through, he really doesn’t like spending money on all kinds of freeloaders,” Medvedev wrote Google Translate updates on Telegram. “The question is how much they will force Trump to pay for the war.”
Medvedev, deputy chairman of the Russian Security Council, pointed out: “He is very stubborn, but the system is stronger.”
Kirill Dmitriev, CEO of the Russian Direct Investment Fund, Russia’s sovereign wealth fund, commented, “Trump and his team have demonstrated unique strength and resilience to win the presidency and gain access to the U.S. Congress and control of the Senate,” despite what he called “despite a massive disinformation campaign against them.
He provided no evidence to support his claims.
“Their convincing victory shows that ordinary Americans are fed up with the Biden administration’s unprecedented lies, incompetence and malevolence,” Dmitriev said. “This opens up new opportunities to reset relations between Russia and the United States.” .
Alexander Tolmachev, a member of the ruling United Russia party who supports President Putin, said:old news agency RIA Novosti He hopes that Russia-US relations can thaw under Trump’s leadership.
“In talking about Trump’s victory, it is important not to forget that any American president serves his country first. Of course, no one in the White House has the interests of Russia or other people seriously in mind. We can hope that our relationship with the United States can change Gotta be a little warmer – but just a little bit,” he said.
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