Russian Interference: Despite Putin’s comments, the U.S. intelligence community has assessed that Russia would likely prefer a second Trump presidency. Previous investigations revealed Russian efforts to boost Trump’s candidacy and undermine Biden’s during the 2016 and 2020 elections. This contrasts with the recent comments, which seem to align more with Harris’s policies.
Strategic Interests: Trump has been critical of U.S. support for Ukraine and has hinted at a potential shift in NATO policy, which could benefit Putin’s strategic interests. This aligns with the notion that Putin might prefer a Trump presidency for its potential to weaken NATO and reduce U.S. support for Ukraine.
Peace Talks: Separately, Putin expressed openness to engaging in peace talks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, suggesting that countries like Brazil, India, or China could mediate. This is a shift from his earlier stance of rejecting talks amid ongoing conflict.
