Vladimir Putin has congratulated Donald Trump on his seismic victory in the 2024 U.S. presidential election, calling the Republican leader a “real man” and signaling a willingness to engage in talks over the future of both nations, particularly with respect to the ongoing war in Ukraine.
In a statement on Thursday, Putin, 72, expressed his admiration for Trump’s resilience, especially after the assassination attempt in July.
“I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate him on his election as president of the United States of America,” Putin said during his speech at the Valdai Discussion Club in Sochi.
He also praised Trump for his bravery in handling the assassination attempt, calling his actions “correct” and “courageous, like a real man.”

Putin’s remarks came just after Trump was confirmed as the victor in a hard-fought election against Kamala Harris, with the former president sweeping to victory in several key battleground states.
Putin’s congratulations mark his first public comments on the election results since Trump’s victory was confirmed.
During his address, Putin also made a controversial statement, suggesting that Trump had been “bullied” during his first term in the White House, adding to the already tense relationship between the U.S. and Russia at the time.
In response to Trump’s bold campaign promise to end the war in Ukraine within 24 hours of taking office, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov weighed in, acknowledging that while Trump’s claims may be “overexaggerated,” he suggested that the Trump administration would likely be better positioned to find a resolution to the conflict than Joe Biden’s administration.
“We are not sending American men and women to uphold peace in Ukraine. And we are not paying for it. Get the Poles, Germans, British and French to do it,” a Trump team member reportedly said, revealing the former president’s strategy for the war, which involves creating a demilitarised zone along the front lines without deploying U.S. troops.

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While the details of the plan remain unclear, it is understood that Trump aims to freeze the conflict and push for European nations to take a more active role in peacekeeping efforts.
Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has reportedly called Trump to congratulate him and discuss future cooperation.
As Trump prepares for his second term, it remains to be seen how his approach to Ukraine and his relationship with Putin will shape U.S.-Russia relations moving forward.
The world is watching closely as the next chapter in the global power struggle unfolds.