Putin congratulates Trump in first public comments on U.S. election results

Vladimir Putin congratulates Donald Trump on election victory, praises courage during assassination attempt, cautious on future U.S.-Russia relations.

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday (November 7, 2024) congratulated Donald Trump on his election victory in his first public comment on the U.S. vote, and he praised the president-elect's courage during the July assassination attempt.

“His behavior at the moment of an attempt on his life left an impression on me. He turned out to be a brave man," Mr. Putin said at an international forum following a speech in the Black Sea resort of Sochi.

"He manifested himself in the very correct way, bravely as a man,” he added.

Mr. Putin also said that 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.”

The Kremlin earlier welcomed Mr. Trump’s claim that he could negotiate an end to the conflict in Ukraine “in 24 hours” but emphasised that it will wait for concrete policy steps.

″I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate him on his election as president of the United States of America,” Mr. Putin said in a question-and-answer session at the conference.

As to what he expects from a second Mr. Trump administration, Mr. Putin said, “I don’t know what will happen now. I have no idea.”