Putin congratulates Trump on election win in first public remarks 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 statements on resolving the Ukrainian crisis but noted that the Kremlin will wait for concrete actions. He mentioned that he is uncertain about what to expect from Trump's second term.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov indicated that contact between Putin and Trump before the inauguration is possible. 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.