In the first official reaction to former President Donald Trump's election victory, Russia has declared the political shift a reflection of U.S. voters' disillusionment with Democratic policies and said Moscow would uphold its position on the war in Ukraine when dealing with the new leadership in Washington.
Trump has been critical of the Ukraine strategy pursued by the administration of President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris, whom he defeated on Tuesday. Trump has threatened to cut off Washington's multibillion-dollar military aid to Kyiv and vowed to pursue a plan that would put a quick end to the war launched by Moscow in February 2022.
Russian President Vladimir Putin, with whom Trump sought closer relations during his previous time in office, has welcomed these efforts, though the Kremlin has sought to emphasize its neutrality in the U.S. election. With Trump set to take office in two months, the Russian Foreign Ministry recognized there would still be challenges ahead.
"We have no illusions about the president elect, who is well known in Russia, or the new Congress, where Republicans have reportedly won control," the Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement published Tuesday and shared with Newsweek. "The U.S. ruling political elite adheres to anti-Russia principles and the policy of 'containing Moscow.'"
"This line does not depend on changes in America's domestic political barometer," the statement said, "no matter if it is Trump and his supporters' 'America above all' or the Democrats' focus on a 'rules-based world order.'"
The ministry further asserted that "Russia will interact with the new administration when it comes to the White House, firmly upholding Russia's national interests and working to achieve all the goals of the special military operation. Our conditions have not changed, and Washington is well aware of them."
On the political level, the Russian Foreign Ministry argued that Trump's win and his return to the White House "obviously reflect Americans' disappointment in the performance of the Biden administration and the election program of the Democratic Party formulated by Vice-President Kamala Harris, who was hastily chosen to replace the incumbent president in the race."
The ministry accused Democrats of launching "an overpowering propaganda campaign" against Trump, with "administrative resource and support from the liberal media."
Yet, the former president "who relied on the experience of his previous presidency, highlighted issues that are of real interest to the electorate, namely, the economy and illegal migration, as a counterbalance to the White House's globalist course."
"In that situation," the ministry added, "the ruling group was unable to use the chronically ill American 'democracy,' which is outdated and incompatible with the modern standards of direct, fair and transparent elections, to prevent Kamala Harris's defeat."
The ministry also observed "an obvious civil discord in the United States, whose electorate has split into almost equal halves," suggesting political clashes could worsen under a second Trump presidency.
"In fact, we are witnessing confrontation between Democratic and Republican states, and between the advocates of 'progressive' and traditional values," the ministry said. "It is possible that Donald Trump's return will fuel internal tensions and bitterness between the confronting camps."
Putin has yet to comment on Trump's victory. His spokesperson, Dmitry Peskov, addressed the silence on Wednesday, noting that "we are talking about an election that took place in a country that is unfriendly to us and in a country that is involved in the conflict over Ukraine," according to the official Tass Russian News Agency.
Russian Security Council Deputy Secretary Dmitry Medvedev, who previously served as president while Putin was prime minister from 2008-2012, expressed his thoughts on Telegram on Wednesday. He hinted at the advantages of having Trump in the White House, even if there was a "furious bipartisan anti-Russian consensus on Capitol Hill."
On the other side of the battlefield, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky was among the first world leaders to congratulate Trump despite the president-elect's skepticism over Washington's aid to Kyiv.
"I appreciate President Trump's commitment to the 'peace through strength' approach in global affairs," Zelensky said. "This is exactly the principle that can practically bring just peace in Ukraine closer. I am hopeful that we will put it into action together."
"We look forward to an era of a strong United States of America under President Trump's decisive leadership," he added. "We rely on continued strong bipartisan support for Ukraine in the United States."
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