Putin's Praise for Trump: A Fresh Start?

Russian President Vladimir Putin has high hopes for the incoming U. S. President, Donald Trump. He believes Trump's intelligence and experience make him capable of finding solutions to complex problems. This optimistic view comes despite the current tensions between Moscow and the West, especially over the ongoing war in Ukraine. Putin criticized outgoing U. S. President Joe Biden for creating additional challenges by allowing Ukraine to use longer-range American missiles. He even threatened further nuclear-capable missile strikes on Ukraine. Putin's support for Trump is a stark contrast to his criticisms of Biden. He sees Trump as a potential partner for better relations between Russia and the U. S. Trump, on his part, has promised to end the war in Ukraine within 24 hours, though he hasn't detailed how he plans to do this. Putin also recognized Trump's resilience in the face of two assassination attempts during his campaign. The Russian president didn't shy away from discussing the Ukrainian war. He warned of more launches of Russia's new medium-range ballistic missile, Oreshnik, capable of delivering nuclear payloads. Putin's statements leave room for interpretation, hinting at potential military or political targets in Ukraine.