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 recent 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 stated that the Kremlin will wait for specific actions. He noted uncertainty about what to expect from Trump's second term. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov mentioned the possibility of contact between Trump and Putin 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.