Russia's top brass look for U.S. reset as Putin keeps quiet — for now

The Kremlin said Russian President Vladimir Putin has nary contiguous plans to congratulate Donald Trump, who emerged arsenic president-elect successful the U.S. connected Wednesday — but elder Russian officials pointed to the triumph for the Republican arsenic a alteration for a "reset" successful relations.

"I americium not alert of the president's plans to congratulate Trump connected his election," Kremlin Press Secretary Dmitry Peskov told reporters Wednesday, according to Google-translated comments from state quality bureau Tass.

"Let's not hide that we are talking astir an unfriendly state that is straight and indirectly progressive successful a warfare against our state," helium added.

The Kremlin's absorption came aft Trump declared victory successful the presidential election early Wednesday, arsenic helium headed toward securing the afloat 270 Electoral College votes needed to triumph the White House. Since then, NBC News projected him arsenic president-elect, putting him connected the way to go the 47^th president of the United States.

Trump's triumph is seen arsenic a affirmative by Moscow due to the fact that of its apt antagonistic interaction connected Ukraine, fixed Republican hostility to ongoing subject assistance packages for Kyiv, and a overseas argumentation stance nether Trump that puts American interests first. Trump is besides apt look to propulsion Ukraine into bid talks with Russia.

Earlier this morning, Ukrainian person Volodymyr Zelenskyy congratulated Donald Trump as the American person appeared to beryllium connected the brink of winning the vote, putting a brave look connected a Republican triumph that's seen arsenic a atrocious result for Kyiv in presumption of subject assistance and, potentially, its territorial integrity.

Russian President Vladimir Putin and Trump appeared to bask cordial relations during the latter's U.S. 2017-2021 presidency. The narration was mired successful contention aft allegations of collusion betwixt Trump's past statesmanlike run squad and Russia, which was accused of meddling successful the 2016 election.

Both leaders denied immoderate conspiracy to power the vote, and a consequent enquiry recovered nary proof that Trump criminally colluded with Russia. The probe besides reached nary decision astir whether Trump obstructed justice.

In the run-up to the 2024 statesmanlike election, Russia looked to downplay its involvement successful the vote, and peculiarly successful a triumph for Trump — who analysts said was highly apt to beryllium Moscow's campaigner of choice.

Back successful February, Putin said helium preferred current White House person Joe Biden — who was past slated to vie for a 2nd word connected behalf of Democrats— to beryllium the adjacent U.S. president, describing him arsenic a much experienced and much predictable" politician.

In June, Putin told journalists that Biden was "an old-school politician" portion playing down his enactment for Trump's campaign, stating, "we person ne'er had immoderate peculiar ties with Mr Trump, but the information remains that arsenic president helium started imposing monolithic sanctions connected Russia, helium withdrew from the pact connected intermediate and shorter-range missiles."

While Putin is highly apt to yet remark connected Trump's predetermination triumph — and to congratulate him erstwhile his triumph is confirmed — different Russian officials person been forthcoming astir the ballot being an accidental for a imaginable reset of relations betwixt Washington and Moscow.

Dmitry Medvedev, formerly Russian President and a known Russian hawk, commented that Trump would apt look to springiness Ukraine little subject backing — assistance that is seen arsenic captious for Kyiv to proceed to combat backmost against Russia's invasion.

"Trump has 1 prime that is utile to us: arsenic a businessman to the core, helium mortally dislikes spending wealth connected assorted hangers-on and freeloaders," Medvedev wrote in a Google-translated update connected Telegram. "The question is however overmuch they volition unit Trump to springiness for the war."

"He is stubborn, but the strategy is stronger," noted Medvedev, lawman president of the Russian Security Council.

Kirill Dmitriev, main enforcement of the Russian Direct Investment Fund, Russia's sovereign wealthiness fund, commented that "Trump and his squad demonstrated unsocial spot and resilience, winning the presidency and gaining power of the U.S. Congress and Senate" contempt what helium called a "despite a large-scale disinformation run directed against them."

He presented nary grounds to backmost up his claim.

"Their convincing triumph shows that mean Americans are bushed of the unprecedented lies, incompetence, and malice of the Biden administration. This opens up caller opportunities for resetting relations betwixt Russia and the United States," Dmitriev said.