Russian President Vladimir Putin has formally congratulated Donald Trump on his recent victory in the U.S. presidential election. In his first public comments on the outcome, Putin extended his congratulations on Thursday, commending Trump’s courage during a prior assassination attempt in July.
This congratulatory message comes just a day after the Russian government had indicated no immediate plans to acknowledge Trump’s win. According to Kremlin statements, Russia still considers the U.S. an unfriendly country.
“I was impressed by his behavior during the assassination attempt,” Putin said at an international forum in Sochi. “He showed bravery and handled the situation in a commendable manner,” he added.
Putin also mentioned Trump’s expressed interest in improving U.S.-Russia relations and potentially helping to resolve the Ukrainian crisis. “In my opinion, his comments on restoring relations with Russia deserve attention,” Putin noted. The Kremlin welcomed Trump’s claim that he could resolve the Ukraine conflict “in 24 hours” but stressed that it would wait to see concrete actions.
“I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate him on his election as president of the United States of America,” Putin said during a Q&A session at the conference. When asked what he expects from Trump’s administration, Putin replied, “I don’t know what will happen now. This is his final term, and what he chooses to do is his decision.”
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov added that a conversation between Putin and Trump could happen before the inauguration, as Trump had expressed intentions to call Putin before then. However, Peskov reaffirmed Russia’s view of the U.S. as an “unfriendly” country and its involvement in the Ukrainian conflict. He dismissed concerns that Putin’s delayed congratulatory message would harm future relations, citing that U.S.-Russia ties are already at a historic low.
The Kremlin’s cautious stance reflects its view of the U.S. election as a difficult choice. While Trump has expressed admiration for Putin, the Russian president has often noted that during Trump’s first term, the U.S. imposed more restrictions and sanctions on Russia than any previous administration.