Russian President Vladimir Putin extended congratulations to Donald Trump on his recent U.S. election victory, expressing admiration for Trump's resilience during an assassination attempt in July. In his first public statement on the election results, Putin remarked, “He turned out to be a brave man,” highlighting Trump’s composure and courage.

Speaking at an international forum in Sochi, Putin added, “His behavior during the attempt on his life left an impression on me. He manifested himself in a very correct way, bravely as a man.” Putin also noted Trump’s expressed desire to improve relations with Russia and to resolve the ongoing Ukrainian crisis, stating these intentions "deserve attention at least."

The Kremlin welcomed Trump’s ambitious claim that he could resolve the Ukraine conflict “in 24 hours” but indicated it would wait for concrete actions from the U.S. administration.

In a conference Q&A session, Putin said, “I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate him on his election as president of the United States of America.” When asked about expectations for a potential second Trump term, Putin responded, “I don’t know what will happen now. I have no idea.” He also noted that while Trump is serving his last term, his actions are his own decision, as Putin begins his fifth term, which could extend his leadership until 2030 or beyond.

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov mentioned the possibility of a call between Putin and Trump before the inauguration, as Trump expressed intentions to reach out. Peskov reiterated Moscow’s view of the U.S. as “unfriendly” and directly involved in the Ukrainian conflict. Dismissing concerns about the timing of Putin's outreach to Trump, Peskov noted that U.S.-Russia relations are already at a historic low, and it will be up to the new U.S. administration to address this.

The Kremlin’s measured approach reflects its stance on the U.S. election, viewing it as a choice between two unappealing options. Despite Trump’s known admiration for Putin, the Russian leader has previously pointed out that Trump’s first term saw an unprecedented number of sanctions imposed on Russia.