Donald Trump (L) and Vladimir Putin of Russia arrive to attend a joint press conference after their meeting at the Presidential Palace in Helsinki, July 16, 2018.
Yuri Kadobnov Afp | Getty Images
The Kremlin said Russian President Vladimir Putin did not immediately plan to congratulate Donald Trump, who emerged as president-elect in the US on Wednesday – but a senior Russian official pointed to the victory for the Republic as a change to “reset” in relations.
“I am not aware of the president’s plans to congratulate Trump on his election,” Kremlin Press Secretary Dmitry Peskov told reporters Wednesday, according to Google-translated comments from state news agency Tass.
“Don’t forget that we are talking about an unfriendly country that is directly and indirectly involved in the war against our country,” he said.
The Kremlin’s reaction came after Trump declared victory in the presidential election early on Wednesday, as he will get the 270 Electoral College votes needed to win the White House. Since then, NBC News has described him as the president-elect, making him the 47thTh the president of the United States.
Republican presidential candidate and former US President Donald Trump holds hands with his wife Melania during a rally, at the Palm Beach County Convention Center in West Palm Beach, Florida, USA, November 6, 2024.
Brian Snyder Reuters
Trump’s victory was seen positively by Moscow because of the negative impact on Ukraine, because of Republican hostility to the ongoing military aid package for Kyiv, and the foreign policy stance of Trump that prioritizes American interests. Trump is also likely to push Ukraine into peace talks with Russia.
Earlier this morning, Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelenskyy congratulated Donald Trump as the American politician appeared to be on the verge of winning the vote, putting on a brave face in the victory of the Republicans which was seen as a bad result for Kyiv in terms of military aid and, potentially. , its territorial integrity.
Russian President Vladimir Putin and Trump seem to enjoy a good relationship during their 2017-2021 US presidency. The relationship became controversial after allegations of collusion between Trump’s presidential campaign team and Russia, which is accused of meddling in the 2016 election.
Both leaders have denied conspiring to influence the vote, and subsequent investigations have found no evidence of Trump’s criminal collusion with Russia. The investigation also did not reach a conclusion on whether Trump obstructed justice.
Aerial view of Moscow Kremlin landmark: St. Basil, Kremlin, Spasskaya Tower and Red Square
Sergey Alimov moment | Getty Images
Ahead of the 2024 presidential election, Russia seems to be underestimating its interest in the vote, and especially in winning for Trump – who analysts say is very likely to be Moscow’s preferred candidate.
Back in February, Putin said he preferred current White House leader Joe Biden – then slated to run for a second term for the Democrats – to be the next US president, describing him as a more experienced and more predictable politician.
In June, Putin told reporters that Biden was an “old-school politician” while reducing his support for the Trump campaign, saying, “we have never had a special relationship with Mr. withdrawal from the treaty on intermediate and shorter-range missiles.”
While Putin is likely to comment on Trump’s election victory – and congratulate him when the victory is confirmed – other Russian officials have come around to the vote as an opportunity to reset relations between Washington and Moscow.
Dmitry Medvedev, the former President of Russia and a known Russia hawk, said Trump would give Ukraine less military funding — aid he sees as essential for Kyiv to continue fighting Russian aggression.
“Trump has one quality that is useful for us: as a core entrepreneur, he does not like to spend money on various hangers-on and freeloaders,” wrote Medvedev in an update translated by Google on Telegram. “The question is how much it will force Trump to give up the fight.”
“They are stubborn, but the system is stronger,” said Medvedev, the deputy chairman of Russia’s Security Council.
Kirill Dmitriev, chief executive of the Russian Direct Investment Fund, Russia’s state-owned wealth fund, said that “Trump and his team demonstrated unique strength and resilience, won the presidency and gained control of the US Congress and Senate” despite what he called “despite”. a large-scale disinformation campaign aimed at him.”
He provided no evidence to support his claim.
“The convincing victory shows that ordinary Americans are tired of the lies, incompetence, and unprecedented crimes of the Biden administration. It opens a new opportunity to reset the relationship between Russia and the United States,” said Dmitriev.
