Russian President Vladimir Putin congratulated Donald Trump on his U.S. presidential election victory, expressing readiness for dialogue and highlighting Trump's 'courage' during an assassination attempt earlier in his campaign. Putin emphasized Trump's intentions to rebuild U.S.-Russia relations and address the Ukrainian crisis, though he remained cautious about future developments. The Kremlin indicated possible communication with Trump before his official inauguration, while Russian officials criticized Western support for Ukraine, with Sergey Shoigu stating that the West's strategy has failed and advocating for negotiations. Putin reiterated Russia's commitment to mutually beneficial cooperation with Western nations but warned against NATO aggression amidst concerns over North Korea's military support to Russia.