Return Donald Trump to power and he has two eyes firmly on his figure.Russia and Ukraine. At the time, the former U.S. president said he could “end the war in 24 hours” and in Kiev and Moscow welcome his victory in the presidential election with two different visionsalthough with shared caution (also for different reasons). Putin and Trump have a good relationship, but Moscow does not want to make any false steps. Meanwhile, Zelenski is in trouble because the return of the tycoon to the White House can completely block any new help in dealing with the invasion.
The Kremlin continues to view the US as “a hostile country.”according to Putin’s government spokesman, Dimitri Peskov, who does not know if the president will congratulate Trump; he does assume that an improvement in relations between the two countries “will depend” on Washington and is clear that “they cannot get worse” after the last few years. In Peskov’s words, Moscow remains open to a “constructive dialogue” based “on freedom and equality”.
“Putin maintains this attitude. He has repeatedly confirmed it. At the moment, the US administration is diametrically opposed. We will see what happens in January,” he maintained, referring to the time when Trump will be sworn in again as president. “What happens will depend on the next leadership in the United States,” he warned, before emphasizing that the United States “is a hostile country directly and indirectly involved in a war.” against Moscow. The spokesman did not, however, make any reference to NATO.
In that scenario, one of the most relevant messages was that of the Ukrainian president, Volodimir Zelenski, who sees how US aid to his country may now be endangered with this change in power. In a certain way he sees himself on a tightrope. “I value President Trump’s commitment to the peace through strength approach in international affairs. This is exactly the principle that can practically bring a just peace closer in Ukraine. I am hopeful that we will implement it together,” he summed up, adding a wish: “We hope that the United States will be strong under the decisive leadership of President Trump. We are confident that Ukraine will continue to receive strong bipartisan support“. Kiev looks forward to “mutually beneficial political and economic cooperation that will benefit both nations.”
The Ukrainian president in his first message left his hand outstretched to Washington, although there are a few months left for Trump to move on to making decisions. “Ukraine, as one of the largest military powers in Europe, is committed to ensuring long-term peace and security in Europe and in the transatlantic community with the support of our allies. I look forward to personally congratulating President Trump and discussing ways to strengthen Ukraine’s strategic partnership with the United States,” Zelenski added, although misgivings are mostly fixed on the soon-to-be new US Vice President JD Vance, one of the most critical voices of aid to Kiev.
For his part, former Russian President and current Security Council Deputy Chairman Dmitry Medvedev sees Trump as a “stubborn leader” but that is not a bad thing in Moscow’s eyes. “It’s a businessman at heart and he hates spending money on parasites, freeloaders, idiot alliesHe summed up, questioning the pressure the new president will be under to maintain support for Kiev, despite the doubts not only of Zelenski but also of Western allies.