Russian Officials Congratulate Trump on Election Victory

Russian state media has celebrated Donald Trump's likely return to the presidency, linking it to potential advantages for Russia in the ongoing war in Ukraine. Sergey Karnaukhov on Solovyov Live declared a 'new era' while Olga Skabeeva suggested Trump could end U.S. aid to Ukraine, which they believe would favor Russia. Reports indicate that Vladimir Putin and other Russian officials have unofficially congratulated Trump through intermediaries, despite the Kremlin's official stance denying such communications. Dmitry Medvedev expressed that Trump's business-oriented mindset might lead to reduced U.S. spending on Ukraine, which he views as beneficial for Russia. Kirill Dmitriev, CEO of the Russian Direct Investment Fund, claimed Trump's election could reset U.S.-Russia relations and reflects American discontent with the Biden administration. Meanwhile, Ukraine's President Zelenskyy acknowledged Trump's victory, hoping for a role in peace efforts, though the Kremlin's official reaction remained cautious and understated.