This is very worrisome.
Russian President Vladimir Putin recently made a series of comments that could signal a shift in U.S.-Russia relations, particularly with President-elect Donald Trump set to return to the White House in January. Speaking to reporters in Kazakhstan, Putin praised Trump as a “smart” and “experienced” leader, expressing optimism that relations between Moscow and Washington could improve once the former president is back in office. His remarks came amid rising tensions between the U.S. and Russia under the Biden administration, especially over Ukraine.
Putin described Trump as someone with the necessary experience to navigate complex geopolitical issues, saying, “I believe he will find a solution.” This sentiment stands in contrast to the current climate of animosity between the two nations, fueled by President Biden’s support for Ukraine and his administration’s increasing weapons shipments to the war-torn country. Putin even warned the U.S. to halt its “spiral of escalation” in Ukraine, particularly after the Biden administration greenlighted the use of long-range missiles inside Russian territory.
On the campaign trail, Trump repeatedly vowed to end the war in Ukraine quickly, though he has not revealed the specifics of his plan. His approach to Russia, including past comments calling Putin a “genius,” has drawn both praise and criticism. Despite these remarks, Trump has remained consistently critical of the way the U.S. government has handled foreign policy, particularly under the current administration.
One of Putin’s most striking statements was his concern for Trump’s safety, mentioning two assassination attempts on the former president this year—one during a campaign rally in Pennsylvania and another while Trump was golfing in Florida. “I don’t think he is safe,” Putin warned, adding that such attempts against a leader of a democratic nation were “absolutely uncivilized.”
In his comments, Putin also criticized the treatment of Trump’s family by political opponents, calling the tactics “revolting” and likening them to behavior that even “bandits” in Russia would avoid.
As Putin looks ahead to Trump’s second term, his remarks offer a glimpse into the potential for a realignment in U.S.-Russia relations, one that could contrast sharply with the confrontational stance currently taken by the Biden administration.