A new direction for US-Russia relations?

What the U.S. election means for Russia

It’s not just America-centrism: Russia’s abuzz with the question of what a Trump presidency will mean for Russia. Here’s a sampling.

• Russia has been bordering on pariah territory with the rest of the Western world. Some think a president who’s fond of Putin may improve U.S.-Russia relations – though that bond might also fuel some of Russia’s more authoritarian tendencies.
• On the other hand, Russia – and foreign policy in general – aren’t exactly Trump’s top priority. He may look more like the kind of candidate most Russians could get behind, but the main thing many political scientists are predicting is a lot of unpredictability.
• Poli sci aside, some Russian Trump fans threw celebratory parties that might look pretty familiar to red states in the U.S. These Russians see the billionaire-turned-politician as being on the front line in “the struggle between the global elite and ordinary folks.”
• Still, some say that those at the top of Russian government aren’t as thrilled as you might expect: a messy election may bolster feelings of anti-Americanism, but adapting to a Trump presidency could be more complicated for Putin’s Russia than anticipated.

In Odder News

• A Russian Trump can also be a winner: a cat named Trump, formerly “employed” catching rats in St. Petersburg’s Hermitage Museum, was showered with treats in honor of the feline’s namesake’s victory.
• It doesn’t stop at cats: Burger King in Russia is all set to preview the “Trump burger.”
• One way to cut spending: reduce water temperature by 10 degrees in Russian homes. That’ll help jolt people awake in the morning.

 Quote of the Week

“We know that this will not be easy, but are ready to take this road.”
—President Vladimir Putin, in his statement congratulating president-elect Trump, on the difficult task of mending U.S.-Russia relations.

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