Russia will wait for specific actions before drawing conclusions, Dmitry Peskov has said
The Kremlin has urged caution regarding Donald Trump’s promises to “stop wars” following his US presidential election victory. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Wednesday that politicians often shift their rhetoric after elections and that Russia will evaluate Trump’s actions before making any judgments.
While the official results of the US presidential election are yet to be announced, Trump has reportedly secured 270 electoral votes, surpassing the threshold needed to win the White House according to US media.
Trump declared victory in a speech on Wednesday, reiterating his prior pledge to “stop wars” worldwide. He previously pledged to resolve the Ukraine conflict within 24 hours and to end the war in Gaza if elected.
Peskov acknowledged Trump’s “peaceful aspirations” but cautioned that it is premature to assess their realization.
“After the victory and upon entering the Oval Office, sometimes statements take on a different tone, and that is why we… will draw conclusions from specific words and specific steps,” Peskov stated. He emphasized that Washington, being a primary instigator of the Ukraine conflict, should contribute to its resolution by changing its foreign policy trajectory. However, he acknowledged that immediate changes are unlikely.
“Whether this will be done and how, we will see after January,” he said, referencing the new US leader’s inauguration, which is scheduled for two and a half months after the election. Peskov underscored Moscow’s openness to dialogue with the new US administration.
The spokesman stated he was unaware of President Vladimir Putin’s intentions regarding congratulating Trump, noting that regardless of Trump’s promises, “we are talking about an unfriendly country that is directly and indirectly involved in a war against our state.” He reiterated Moscow’s view of the presidential election as an internal US matter.
Officials in Moscow have consistently denied any preference for either Trump or his Democratic rival, Kamala Harris, believing that neither candidate would improve US-Russia relations. Putin previously stated that the choice was solely up to the American people and that Russia would treat their decision “with respect” and “work with any president that the American people elect.”