Russian President Vladimir Putin has congratulated Donald Trump on his victory in the U.S. presidential election and expressed Moscow’s readiness for renewed dialogue with the Republican president-elect. Speaking at the Valdai International Discussion Club in Sochi on November 7, Putin stated, “I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate him on his victory in the U.S. presidential election. We will work with any head of state who is trusted by the American people.”
These were Putin’s first public remarks following Trump’s win, as reported by Al Jazeera. Putin also commended Trump for his composure and bravery during the assassination attempt at a campaign event in Butler, Pennsylvania, on July 14, noting that Trump handled the situation “courageously, like a real man.”
Putin further remarked that Trump’s stated intent to restore U.S.-Russia relations and potentially help resolve the Ukrainian crisis is noteworthy. Previously, the Kremlin responded positively to Trump’s claim that he could negotiate an end to the conflict in Ukraine within 24 hours but indicated it would wait for concrete steps.
Earlier, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov commented on Trump’s remarks about resolving the Ukraine conflict, suggesting the president-elect may have “exaggerated” the timeline. Peskov added that an administration prioritizing peace over war would be a welcome change.
Moscow continues to deny U.S. accusations of interference in the 2024 and other U.S. presidential elections, as well as claims of spreading disinformation.
Meanwhile, Ukraine has urged its allies for continued support in its conflict with Russia. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, one of the first world leaders to congratulate Trump, shared on X, “We agreed to maintain close dialogue and advance our cooperation. Strong and unwavering U.S. leadership is vital for the world and for a just peace.”
In past comments, Trump hinted that Ukraine might need to consider territorial concessions to end the war, a notion Ukraine has rejected, as did former President Joe Biden. Since 2022, the U.S. has supplied over $64.1 billion in military aid to Ukraine, per data from the U.S. Department of State. Foreign policy remained a major topic for American voters in the 2024 presidential election.