Putin congratulates Trump on election win in first comments on U.S. vote

Russian President Vladimir Putin congratulated Donald Trump on his election victory, marking his first public comment on the U.S. vote. He praised Trump’s bravery during a July assassination attempt and acknowledged Trump's desire to improve U.S.-Russia relations.

Putin expressed cautious optimism about Trump's willingness to negotiate an end to the Ukraine conflict but noted that the Kremlin will wait for specific actions. He stated he is uncertain about what to expect from Trump’s second term.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov mentioned the possibility of contact between Putin and Trump before the inauguration. He emphasized that U.S.-Russia relations are at a low point and that it is up to the new U.S. leadership to change this dynamic.