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With Donald Trump vowing to bring an expedited end to the Ukraine conflict, the Kremlin has said it will measure his actions once in office. Meanwhile, there is growing apprehension in Western capitals, as many worry that his second term could destabilize the West’s commitment to Ukraine, leading to further complications in the region.
The streets of Moscow saw many cautiously welcoming Donald Trump’s electoral win, with residents telling AFP they hoped he would live up to his promises of ending the conflict in Ukraine that has dragged on for almost three years. While there was hope for a swift resolution, some acknowledged the uncertainty that accompanied such ambitious pledges.
Trump has repeatedly asserted that the war, launched by the Kremlin in February 2022, could be concluded in just 24 hours. Despite his strong statements, he has offered little in the way of concrete details about the approach or steps he would take to bring about such a swift end to the ongoing conflict.
Trump has frequently criticized the billions of dollars in US military and humanitarian assistance to Ukraine, calling into question the long-term viability of such aid. Moreover, he has repeatedly held Kyiv responsible for the conflict, further fueling controversy around his foreign policy stance.
Amid record-low relations between Moscow and Washington since the Cold War, the Kremlin has made it clear it will withhold judgment on Trump until he takes office in January. This cautious wait-and-see approach suggests that Russia is proceeding with careful consideration as it looks ahead to future interactions with the US.
“We will draw conclusions based on concrete steps and concrete words,” President Vladimir Putin’s spokesman Dmitry Peskov said.
He added he was “not aware” of any plans for Putin to congratulate Trump, since the United States is an “unfriendly country” that is “at war” with Russia.
Moscow has said it would accept a settlement of the conflict in Ukraine only if Kyiv surrenders vast swathes of its territory.
After Trump declared victory, it said that its position on Ukraine would remain the same and that with the new Republican administration, its priority would still be to achieve “all set” goals in Ukraine.
“Our conditions are unchanged and are well known in Washington,” Russia’s foreign ministry said.
Russia has advanced fast on the battlefield in recent months and as Trump claimed victory, Moscow announced the capture of another two eastern Ukrainian villages.
Some Russian officials saw Trump’s imminent return to the White House as an opportunity for a diplomatic breakthrough over Ukraine.
“It’s possible that there will be a chance for a constructive approach,” Leonid Slutsky, a parliamentary foreign policy official, told Russian media.
On the streets of Moscow, many echoed this feeling, hoping the conflict could be settled on terms that Russia would accept.
“I hope that if Trump is elected in America, the situation in Ukraine will improve and develop,” said Alexander, a 48-year-old engineer.
Many ordinary Russians have been hit hard by the conflict.
Sanctions have stirred economic volatility and complicated travel in and out of the country, while hundreds of thousands of people are estimated to have emigrated and the Kremlin has carried out a massive crackdown on dissent.
