Russian President Vladimir Putin congratulated Donald Trump on his election victory, marking his first public remarks regarding the recent U.S. balloting. Speaking at an international forum in Sochi, Putin praised Trump’s courage during a July assassination attempt.
“His behavior at the moment of an attempt on his life left an impression on me. He turned out to be a brave man,” Putin remarked. “He manifested himself in a very correct way, bravely as a man,” he added.
Putin also acknowledged Trump’s expressed desire to restore relations with Russia and his interest in addressing the ongoing crisis in Ukraine, stating that Trump’s comments “deserve attention at least.”
The Kremlin had previously welcomed Trump’s assertion that he could negotiate an end to the Ukraine conflict “in 24 hours,” while indicating that they would await concrete policy actions from the incoming administration.
During a question-and-answer session at the conference, Putin said, “I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate him on his election as president of the United States of America.”
When asked about expectations for a second Trump administration, Putin replied, “I don’t know what will happen now. I have no idea,” adding that Trump’s future actions are his own matter to decide.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov noted that Moscow is not ruling out the potential for contact between Putin and Trump before the inauguration. Peskov emphasized that Moscow considers the U.S. an “unfriendly” country involved directly in the Ukrainian conflict.
He downplayed any concerns about a lack of immediate outreach to Trump, stating that U.S.-Russia relations are already at their “lowest point in history.” The Kremlin’s cautious stance reflects its view of the U.S. election as a choice between two unappealing outcomes. Despite Trump’s admiration for Putin, the Russian leader reiterated that Trump’s first term saw unprecedented restrictions and sanctions imposed on Russia.
