Celebrations with Champagne and Cautious Optimism
“Never buy a huge amount of champagne unless you’re absolutely certain it’s worth celebrating.”
In November 2016, few Russian officials heeded this advice as Donald Trump’s unexpected victory sparked celebrations across Moscow. Vladimir Zhirinovsky, a prominent Russian ultranationalist politician, famously bought 132 bottles of champagne to mark the event. He was sure Trump’s presidency would transform U.S.-Russia relations and lift sanctions on Russia, an optimism shared by many in Moscow’s political circles.
The excitement wasn’t confined to champagne. RT’s editor-in-chief, Margarita Simonyan, voiced her enthusiasm by pledging to drive around Moscow with an American flag, and a Russian official toasted Trump’s win with champagne and cigars.
High Expectations for US-Russian Relations
The Kremlin hoped Trump’s victory would bring a new era in relations between Washington and Moscow. There was speculation he might lift sanctions or even formally recognize Crimea as part of Russia. “The value of Trump was that he never preached on human rights in Russia,” explains Konstantin Remchukov, editor-in-chief of Nezavisimaya Gazeta.
Yet Moscow’s champagne soon went flat. Trump’s administration imposed some of the strictest sanctions Russia had faced, disheartening Russian leaders and cooling initial enthusiasm. “By the end of his term, a lot of people were disappointed in his presidency,” Remchukov recalls.
A More Reserved Approach This Time
Eight years later, Moscow is exercising more caution. While Russian officials may not oppose a second Trump term, their enthusiasm has certainly tempered. President Vladimir Putin even jokingly endorsed Democratic candidate Kamala Harris, complimenting her “infectious” laugh, an endorsement widely regarded as Kremlin humor.
Despite the joke, it’s Trump’s stance on key issues that has caught the Kremlin’s attention. His reluctance to fully commit to supporting Ukraine, along with criticism of U.S. military aid to Kyiv, aligns more closely with Moscow’s objectives than Harris’s labeling of Putin as a “murderous dictator.”
US-Russia Relations Over the Years
The relationship between the two superpowers has been fraught. Under President Obama, U.S.-Russia ties soured, worsened under Trump, and have recently been described by former Russian Ambassador Anatoly Antonov as “falling apart” under President Joe Biden. The breaking point was Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine shortly after Biden and Putin’s summit in Geneva. The Biden administration responded with sanctions and increased military aid to Ukraine, including Abrams tanks and HIMARS rocket systems.
Reflecting on the Past: Reagan, Gorbachev, and “Duck Diplomacy”
The hostility between the U.S. and Russia is a stark contrast to past collaboration. In the late 1980s, President Ronald Reagan and Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev found common ground in nuclear disarmament, marking a period of cooperation. “Never buy 132 bottles of champagne unless you’re certain it’s worth celebrating,” Reagan might have advised, quoting one of the Russian proverbs he enjoyed reciting to Gorbachev.
This camaraderie even led to the creation of a unique monument in Moscow: a mother duck with eight ducklings, symbolizing friendship between Soviet and American children. Though it has weathered time and even occasional theft, the sculpture stands as a relic of diplomacy between the two nations.
Russian Views on America Today
Today, Russians have mixed opinions on the U.S. and the upcoming election. Near the “duck diplomacy” sculpture in Moscow’s Novodevichy Park, opinions on America varied. “I want America to disappear,” said Igor, an angler who blamed the U.S. for conflicts worldwide, expressing a sentiment often reflected in Russian state media. Others were less critical, calling for peace and cooperation.
One Muscovite, Nikita, expressed a preference for Trump, noting, “When he was president there weren’t any big wars.” While the Kremlin views Trump’s candidacy with some optimism, it is also keenly aware that a divided post-election America would be distracted from foreign policy, which could benefit Moscow’s strategic interests.
The Future of US-Russian Relations and Female Leadership
Russia and America have consistently had male presidents, but some Russians are open to change. “I think it would be great if a woman became president,” says Marina. Whether in Russia or the U.S., a female president might represent a different direction for both nations.
For Moscow, the champagne has been set aside this election season. With lingering disappointment from Trump’s first term, Russia’s leadership is watching with cautious optimism, knowing that in global politics, certainty is often elusive.