Putin congratulates Trump on election win in first comments on U.S. vote
Russian President Vladimir Putin publicly congratulated Donald Trump on his election victory, marking his first comments on the U.S. vote. He praised Trump’s bravery during a July assassination attempt and noted Trump's desire to improve U.S.-Russia relations.
Putin expressed cautious optimism about Trump's statements on resolving the Ukrainian crisis but emphasized the need for concrete actions. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov mentioned the possibility of contact between Trump and Putin before the inauguration.
The Kremlin remains skeptical about U.S.-Russia relations, viewing the U.S. as "unfriendly." Putin acknowledged that Trump's first term saw significant sanctions against Russia, reflecting a complex relationship between the two leaders.