Trump's victory in the election may lead to the lifting or easing of Western sanctions on Moscow, which were put in place after Russia's annexation of Crimea and support for separatists in Ukraine. This could help boost Russia's economy and potentially aid Putin in winning another presidential term in 2018. According to Charles Robertson, the likelihood of sanctions being lifted has increased, which would be beneficial for Russia's investment climate. Russia's rouble currency and stocks saw an increase after Trump won the election, while Ukraine's dollar-denominated bonds dropped to multi-month lows due to concerns about how a Trump presidency would affect the country. The Kremlin had expected strained relations with a Clinton presidency, as Putin had accused her of inciting protests against him. In contrast, Trump was portrayed more positively, with Putin calling him "very talented" and Kremlin-backed media highlighting his political independence. Despite skepticism among most people in Moscow, a small group of Trump-supporting nationalists at a bar in the city had believed the Republican candidate would win. When he did win, Russia's parliament cheered and Putin expressed his willingness to restore relations with Washington. State TV showed a Russian lookalike of Trump mocking a defeated Clinton, and the head of RT said she would drive around Moscow with a US flag in celebration. However, there was a realization that Trump's promises may not all come to fruition and that tensions between Russia and the US would likely persist, despite any friendly gestures between Trump and Putin. Additionally, Congress may limit Trump's efforts to ease sanctions on Russia due to its disapproval of Kremlin actions. Executives from Western companies believe that the main barrier to making deals with Russia is not the current sanctions themselves, but rather the fear of additional sanctions being imposed and the strict enforcement of existing ones. If the Trump administration were to indicate a more relaxed approach, investments could potentially resume despite the sanctions remaining in place. A more lenient stance from the US could also undermine the resolve of European sanctions. Some European countries are already finding ways to bypass the sanctions, while others are calling for a discussion on moving forward. There are also business groups in countries like Germany that are lobbying against the sanctions. Up until now, the US has played a role in strengthening European determination. Many European banks opted out of participating in Russia's Eurobond placement in May this year due to concerns about upsetting US financial regulators. Political analyst Masha Lipman noted that America has been instrumental in keeping Europe united on sanctions against Russia. With Donald Trump as President, there may be potential changes that could benefit Russia. Putin is eager to have sanctions lifted as they could impact his chances for re-election. Russia's central bank is predicting economic growth of up to 1 percent next year, which is lower than what Russian households are accustomed to. Following previous economic downturns, foreign lending and investment have played a significant role in driving recoveries. There are indications that the economy's struggles are diminishing support for Putin, a trend expected to continue in the next 18 months leading up to the Russian presidential election. Observers of the Kremlin anticipate that even with a potentially less hostile relationship with the US under Trump's presidency, any agreement would require tough negotiations from both sides. Russia is pushing for global acknowledgment of Crimea, a region of Ukraine now under Russian control, a goal that has been achieved by only a few nations thus far. Additionally, Russia is pressing Kiev to take more action in implementing a peace agreement for eastern Ukraine, where pro-Russian separatists are dominant. In Syria, Russia is assisting President Bashar al-Assad in a conflict through air strikes and military support. Russia is urging the West to abandon efforts to change the Syrian government, stop aiding hardline Islamists, and cease discussing potential no-fly zones. There is a possibility of a trade-off, where Russia may make concessions on the Syrian issue in exchange for the United States giving ground on Ukraine and sanctions. According to Georgy Bovt, editor of Russkiy Mir magazine, Russia's main focus is on Ukraine, and if the US indicates it does not prioritize Ukraine, it will be easier for Russia to negotiate a deal on Syria. I believe that Russia will be more willing to compromise on Assad because Ukraine holds greater importance for Russia. The media has often compared and contrasted Putin and Trump, noting their similar tough talking styles. Some Russian politicians have suggested that Putin and Trump could develop a close working relationship similar to the one Putin had with former Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi. Trump has even mentioned the possibility of meeting Putin before his inauguration, although Putin's spokesman has stated that there are no current plans for such a meeting. Individuals who are familiar with the leadership styles of both men cautioned that they were sensitive to criticism. Andrey Kortunov, who is the director general of the Russian International Affairs Council, a think-tank closely linked to the Foreign Ministry, stated to Reuters that the Kremlin was concerned about Trump being an untested politician. Kortunov described Trump as unpredictable and a potential liability. Additionally, there were worries that both Putin and Trump shared similar macho characteristics, according to Sergei Markov, a Kremlin-affiliated analyst and former pro-Putin lawmaker. "They could attempt to assess each other. We cannot allow that to occur."