As the results of the 2024 U.S. presidential election unfold, it has become increasingly clear that Russia views Donald Trump’s potential victory as a major win for their expansionist goals. Far from a mere election outcome, the Kremlin sees Trump as a “useful tool” in advancing its geopolitical ambitions, particularly in relation to the ongoing war in Ukraine and broader global influence. Russian officials, including high-ranking allies of President Vladimir Putin, have openly expressed their approval of Trump’s approach to foreign policy—an approach that aligns with Russia’s desire to weaken Western unity and further its own territorial objectives.
Dmitry Medvedev, former Russian president and current deputy chairman of Russia’s Security Council, wasted no time in praising Trump following his electoral success. Medvedev, a staunch ally of Putin, is known for his aggressive anti-Western rhetoric and frequent threats to use nuclear force to advance Russia’s interests. On election night, he took to Telegram to emphasize how Trump’s business-minded, isolationist tendencies make him a potent asset for Russian goals.
“Trump has one quality that is useful for us—as a businessman to the core, he hates spending money on … idiotic allies, stupid charity projects, and voracious international organizations,” Medvedev wrote. In these remarks, Medvedev clearly signals that Trump’s disdain for international alliances and financial commitments—particularly toward Ukraine—aligns with Moscow’s interests. Russia sees in Trump a leader who would be less likely to support Ukraine’s resistance against Russian aggression, thus enabling Russia to continue its military campaign unimpeded.
The Kremlin’s positive view of Trump isn’t a new development. Russian state media and government officials have long viewed him as a potential ally in undermining Western support for Ukraine and other countries aligned with NATO. Trump’s isolationist “America First” rhetoric has been framed as a perfect foil to the U.S. global leadership model that has often opposed Russia’s actions. In Medvedev’s eyes, Trump’s reluctance to support international coalitions and his skepticism toward U.S. military aid to Ukraine makes him a useful figure in furthering Russia’s agenda, particularly in the context of the ongoing war in Ukraine.
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“The question is how much Trump will be forced to give to the war—he’s stubborn, but the system is stronger,” Medvedev added. This comment underscores the Kremlin’s belief that Trump, even if he remains hostile to Ukraine’s cause, would face institutional challenges in pursuing a radically different foreign policy. However, Medvedev is clearly hopeful that, if Trump were to regain the presidency, he would further weaken the U.S.-Ukraine relationship, allowing Russia to push ahead with its territorial ambitions with minimal opposition from Washington.
For Russia, Trump’s victory represents a significant shift in the international balance of power. As Ukraine continues to rely on U.S. military and financial aid to fight Russia’s invasion, Trump’s past actions suggest that he would cut back or even halt that support. His impeachment proceedings in 2019, which stemmed from accusations that he pressured Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to investigate his political opponents in exchange for military aid, are a reminder of how Trump has historically viewed Ukraine—not as an ally to be defended, but as a pawn in his own political game.
Zelensky, despite the complicated history between his country and Trump, publicly congratulated the former president on his election-night success. In a diplomatic tone, Zelensky expressed gratitude for Trump’s commitment to the “peace through strength” approach, which he believes could bring a “just peace” to Ukraine. But beneath the diplomatic niceties, the reality is that Russia sees Trump as a key figure in helping to bring about the end of U.S. support for Ukraine. In this regard, Putin’s government would view Trump’s success as a direct benefit to their strategic goals.
Trump himself has repeatedly criticized U.S. involvement in Ukraine, blaming both Ukraine’s leadership and President Joe Biden for the war, while rarely, if ever, criticizing Russian President Vladimir Putin. His rhetoric has consistently downplayed Russia’s role in the conflict, suggesting instead that U.S. aid to Ukraine is misguided and unnecessary. This anti-interventionist stance directly aligns with Russia’s broader objective of weakening U.S. alliances and ensuring that Ukraine’s defense against Russian aggression remains unsupported.
On Tuesday morning, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky publicly acknowledged Donald Trump’s election night success, posting on X, “Congratulations to Donald Trump on his impressive election victory.”
Zelensky referenced their September meeting, where the two leaders discussed the strategic Ukraine-U.S. partnership, the “Victory Plan,” and potential pathways to end Russia’s aggression in Ukraine.
“I appreciate President Trump’s commitment to the ‘peace through strength’ approach in global affairs,” Zelensky said, adding that this strategy “could bring a just peace in Ukraine closer.”
However, Trump publicly blamed Zelensky and Biden for the war without mentioning the Russian president.
In the Kremlin’s eyes, Trump’s presidency could mark a decisive turning point in the war in Ukraine. By reducing U.S. involvement, Trump would allow Russia to further its expansionist ambitions in Ukraine and potentially elsewhere in Europe, while weakening NATO and undermining Western unity. Russia’s clear view is that Trump’s victory is a strategic triumph for Putin, offering a valuable window to further destabilize the global order in Russia’s favor.
Thus, while much of the world watches the election outcome with uncertainty, Russia seems to see themselves as the true winner—relying on Trump as a crucial ally in achieving their long-term goals. Trump’s presidency would, in their view, bring them closer to their ultimate aim: a reassertion of Russian power on the global stage and an unchecked expansion of their influence in Ukraine and beyond.
