Putin congratulates Trump on election win in first comments on US 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 expressed interest in Trump's desire to improve U.S.-Russia relations.
Putin acknowledged Trump's claim to negotiate an end to the Ukraine conflict quickly 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.