US Election 2024: Russian President Vladimir Putin extended congratulations to Donald Trump on his U.S. presidential election win, expressing readiness to collaborate with the new leader. The Russian leader lauded Trumps strength and resilience, referring to him as a “courageous” individual.What did Putin said on Trumps victoryReacting to Trumps election success, Putin said, according to news agency AFP, “People reveal who they are in extraordinary situations. He showed himself, in my view, with great dignity and courage—like a man.” Putin noted his admiration for how Trump handled a recent assassination attempt at a campaign rally, highlighting Trumps composure under pressure.Is Moscow favoring TrumpWhen asked which U.S. candidate Moscow might prefer, Putin previously stated he favored Joe Biden, with Kamala Harris as his next choice. However, Russia has often been viewed as “pro-Trump,” despite Trumps reputation for stirring both U.S. and international controversies. Russia faced accusations of election interference in 2016, allegedly supporting Trump against Hillary Clinton. The Kremlin has consistently denied these claims.What are the prospects for US-Russia talksKremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov commented Thursday that Russia would not dismiss the possibility of talks between Trump and Putin before Trumps inauguration. According to Peskov, Trump indicated he would be open to preliminary discussions. Nonetheless, Peskov reaffirmed Russias stance that the U.S. is currently viewed as an “unfriendly” nation, directly involved in the Ukraine conflict. Despite this, the Kremlin does not believe Putins cautious approach to Trump will harm future diplomatic relations, emphasizing that Russia-U.S. ties are already at a “historic low.”The restrained response reflects Russias assessment of the U.S. election as a difficult choice between two candidates, each presenting distinct challenges for future relations.
