(Moscow) Moscow will judge Donald Trump on his “actions”, in particular concerning the possible reduction of American support for Ukraine. A hope cherished by some Russians on Wednesday after the billionaire’s victory in the American presidential election.
Posted at 5:17 a.m.
Updated at 7:49 a.m.
“We have repeatedly said that the United States was able to bring about an end to this conflict” and Donald Trump will be judged “on concrete actions,” noted Kremlin spokesperson Dmitri Peskov.
According to him, it is the United States which is “fueling this conflict”, because it has been supplying arms and money to Ukraine since Russia launched an attack on this neighboring country on February 24, 2022.
The outgoing president, Joe Biden, has been the main support of the Ukrainians, notably through massive arms deliveries, allowing them to resist a much more powerful Russian army.
Donald Trump continued during the electoral campaign to denounce the enormous amounts released by Washington and promised to impose peace “in 24 hours” to put an end to the fighting started by Russian President Vladimir Putin.
“No illusions”
Ukraine and European chancelleries fear that Donald Trump will force Kyiv to negotiate with Russia under conditions very favorable to Moscow.
“It is virtually impossible for relations to deteriorate further” with the United States, “they are at their lowest historical level. As for what happens, everything will depend on the American leaders,” said Dmitri Peskov, adding that Vladimir Putin had not planned to congratulate Donald Trump: “Let’s not forget that we are talking about a hostile country who is directly and indirectly involved in a war against our state.”
For its part, Russian diplomacy said it was ready to work with the new American government, while emphasizing that Russia harbors “no illusions” about Trump and that it will pursue all its objectives in Russia.
Two weeks ago, during the closing press conference of the BRICS summit in Kazan, Russia, Vladimir Putin noted that Donald Trump had made “sincere” remarks by declaring “want to do everything to end the conflict in Ukraine.
“The development of Russian-American relations after the election will depend on the United States. If they are open, we will be too,” he added.
“Less aid to Ukraine”
In Moscow on Wednesday, among the rare onlookers agreeing to speak about the American election, some expressed the cautious hope that Donald Trump’s victory would help put an end to the conflict.
Alexandre, a 48-year-old engineer who does not give his last name, is convinced that the Republican will not continue “the current policies” of the United States. ” I think that [Trump]he is a strong man and a charismatic personality”, “something will change”, he comments, interviewed in the center of the Russian capital.
Evgeni, a 19-year-old student, thinks that “there will be less aid to Ukraine”.
“I hope that with the arrival of Trump, the political situation in the world and at home, with our conflict [en Ukraine]will change,” adds Sergei, an 18-year-old architecture student.
Many other Russians interviewed in Moscow assure that “nothing will change” or respond “not interested” in the presidential election in the United States.
Any sign of opposition to the assault in Ukraine or any “discredit” of the Russian army is severely repressed in Russia and thousands of people have been sanctioned, threatened or imprisoned for these reasons.
For many Russians, whoever occupies the White House will be an adversary of Russia.
« Kamala [Harris] or Trump, it’s the same thing. They don’t like Russians,” says Evgueni, a 70-year-old sculptor.
“You should not have excessive expectations. It seems to me that the policy of the United States will not change radically,” adds Valentina Matvienko, the speaker of the upper house of Parliament and a fervent supporter of Vladimir Putin.
