Russian elites quietly congratulate Trump as Kremlin hopes grow
Representatives of Russian authorities and elites, including President Vladimir Putin, have congratulated Donald Trump on his victory in the U.S. presidential election. However, a senior parliamentarian told the independent service Wiorstka that they did so through "acquaintances."
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According to Wiorstka, Russian authorities are currently distancing themselves from publicly assessing the U.S. election results, but they unofficially congratulated Trump through "acquaintances."
Journalists report that, in addition to Putin, Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, Deputy Chairman of the Security Council Dmitry Medvedev, former Economy Minister and current CEO of Sberbank German Gref, and the chairpersons of both chambers of parliament, Valentina Matviyenko and Vyacheslav Volodin, also extended congratulations.
A Wiorstka source in the Kremlin indicates that the Russian authorities "have relations" with the new U.S. president, which Moscow "wants to maintain," as it "ties certain hopes" with Trump.
What are the Russians hoping for?
The new President of the United States has repeatedly stated his intention to end the war in Ukraine, even claiming it could be done in a single day. During his campaign, he criticized American support for Ukraine. In this context, according to Wiorstka, the Russians hope for a reduction in U.S. aid to Kyiv.
Meanwhile, in the Kremlin, they joke about the idea of ending the war in one day. "How will he achieve that? By threatening Putin? Zelensky? A war can be quickly ended in only one way: by abruptly stopping aid to Ukraine," a Wiorstka interviewee commented.
Another Kremlin source notes that the authorities are closely monitoring which conflict will be a priority for Trump: the one in Ukraine or the situation in the Middle East. If the new president focuses on Israel, Palestine, and Iran, then the responsibility for Ukraine's situation will likely fall on the European Union.
Some in the Kremlin have concerns
Not all Russian government officials view the change positively. Some believe Trump will not be able to end the conflict and will continue supporting Ukraine, suggesting in their view that there is a "chance of escalation."
"Everything is more likely to lead to a global mess. This is not the end of the war. This is a global conflict," a Wiorstka interviewee stated.
