Sat Nov 09 01:20:00 UTC 2024: ## Putin Congratulates Trump on Re-Election, Praises His “Courage”
**MOSCOW, November 8, 2024** – Russian President Vladimir Putin congratulated Donald Trump on his re-election victory in his first public comment on the U.S. vote. Putin expressed admiration for Trump’s “courage” during the July assassination attempt, stating that “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 also expressed interest in Trump’s stated desire to restore relations with Russia and help end the Ukrainian conflict. “What Mr. Trump has said about the desire to restore relations with Russia, to help end the Ukrainian crisis, in my opinion, deserves attention at least,” Putin said.
The Kremlin previously welcomed Trump’s claim that he could negotiate an end to the conflict in Ukraine “in 24 hours,” but emphasized the need for concrete policy steps.
Despite the congratulations, the Kremlin remains cautious. Spokesman Dmitry Peskov reiterated that Moscow views the U.S. as an “unfriendly” country and dismissed the possibility of Putin reaching out to Trump before the inauguration as unnecessary, given their already low relationship.
The Kremlin’s stance reflects its view of the U.S. election as a choice between two unfavorable options. While Trump is known for his admiration for Putin, the Russian leader has acknowledged that Trump’s first term was marked by “so many restrictions and sanctions against Russia like no other president has ever introduced before him.”
First Piper 