Russian President Vladimir Putin publicly congratulated President-elect Donald Trump on his election victory, breaking his silence during the “Valdai” forum in Moscow.
According to Meduza, citing the Telegram channel Faridaily, Putin waited until the third hour of his speech—after discussing topics like inequality, AI, and climate change—before addressing Trump’s win, which commentators noted as “almost comically delayed.”
Reflecting on Trump, Putin said, “Initially, people saw him mainly as a businessman, not very political. But his response during the assassination attempt showed his courage. In politics, he seemed surrounded on all sides, with limited options.”
Putin went on to congratulate Trump and expressed openness to resuming dialogue if Trump initiates it, stating, “I don’t mind reaching out either, but I’m holding back because Western leaders used to call almost weekly and then suddenly stopped. If they’re not interested, we’ll continue moving forward. But if anyone wants to renew contact, as I’ve always said, we’re open to it.”
Earlier, Russia’s Foreign Ministry issued a statement about the U.S. election, affirming its readiness to work with the new administration, with a focus on achieving the objectives of the special military operation.
On November 6, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky also congratulated Trump, calling his win a “historic and decisive victory.”
Trump crossed the necessary 270-vote threshold by securing key states, including Alaska and Pennsylvania, cementing his path to the presidency.
