However, Trump's victory in the election could potentially give Moscow a valuable opportunity - the removal or reduction of Western sanctions. These sanctions were imposed by the US and the EU as a response to Moscow's actions in Crimea and eastern Ukraine in 2014. Removing these sanctions could attract more investment to Russia's struggling economy, which would help Putin address the budget deficits caused by low oil prices and sanctions. This could also boost Putin's chances of winning a fourth presidential term in 2018 by demonstrating economic growth. "The likelihood of sanctions being lifted on Russia has significantly increased," noted Charles Robertson, the global chief economist at Renaissance Capital. This change would create a more favorable investment environment for Russia. Russia's currency and stocks saw a boost following Trump's election win, while Ukraine's dollar-denominated bonds fell to multi-month lows due to concerns about how a Trump presidency will impact the country. The Kremlin had anticipated strained relations with a Clinton presidency, as she was seen as anti-Russian, but Trump was viewed more positively, with Putin calling him "very talented" and portrayed as a political maverick in Kremlin-backed media. Despite the disbelief of many in Moscow, a group of Trump-supporting nationalists gathered in a bar adorned with images of Putin, Trump, and Marine Le Pen before the election. When Trump's victory was confirmed, Russia's parliament cheered and Putin expressed readiness to mend ties with Washington. State TV aired a skit featuring a Russian lookalike of Trump teasing a defeated Clinton, and the head of RT, the Kremlin's English-language news channel, vowed to drive around Moscow with a US flag in celebration. However, Russia's excitement was tempered by the realization that Trump's campaign promises may not all come to fruition, and that significant differences between Moscow and Washington will persist, despite a friendly public demeanor between Trump and Putin. Additionally, Trump's efforts to lift sanctions on Russia could face opposition from Congress, which has shown little tolerance for the Kremlin's military actions. Executives from Western companies believe that the main barrier to making deals with Russia is not the sanctions themselves, but the fear of additional sanctions being imposed and the strict enforcement of existing sanctions. If a Trump administration were to indicate to businesses that it was taking a more lenient approach, investments could resume despite the sanctions remaining in place. A softer stance from the US could also undermine the determination of European countries to uphold sanctions. Some member states within the bloc have already begun to find ways to bypass the sanctions, while others are calling for discussions on moving forward. Additionally, certain business groups in countries like Germany are lobbying against the sanctions. Up until now, Washington has played a role in strengthening European unity on this issue. When Russia issued a Eurobond in May, several European banks opted out to avoid displeasing US financial regulators. Political analyst Masha Lipman believes that America's influence has kept Europe united on sanctions, but with Donald Trump as president, there may be potential changes that could benefit Russia. Putin is eager to have sanctions lifted to avoid negatively impacting his chances of re-election. Russia's central bank predicts economic growth of up to 1 percent next year, which is lower than what Russian households are accustomed to. After previous economic downturns, foreign lending and investment have driven recoveries. There are indications that the economy's struggles are affecting support for Putin, a trend that is expected to continue leading up to the Russian presidential election in 18 months. Analysts monitoring the Kremlin believe that even with potentially improved US relations under Trump, any agreements would involve tough negotiations. Russia is pushing for global acceptance of Crimea as part of its territory, with only a few countries recognizing it so far. Additionally, Russia wants Kiev to take more action to enforce a peace agreement in eastern Ukraine, where pro-Russian separatists are in control. In Syria, Russia is assisting President Bashar al-Assad in a war through air strikes and military support. Russia is urging the West to abandon plans to change the government, cease support for what it deems as extremist groups, and stop discussing potential no-fly zones. There is a possibility of a trade-off, where Russia could make concessions on Syria 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 Ukraine, and if the US indicates that it does not prioritize Ukraine, Russia would be satisfied. This could make it easier to negotiate a deal on Syria. I believe that Russia may be willing to compromise on Assad because Ukraine holds more importance for them. There has been a lot of discussion in both Russian and Western media about the similarities and differences between Putin and Trump, even though they have never met. Both leaders are known for their tough rhetoric, and some Russian politicians have speculated that they could develop a close working relationship similar to the one Putin had with former Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi. Trump has mentioned the possibility of meeting Putin before he officially takes office, but Putin's spokesperson has stated that there are currently no plans for such a meeting. Individuals who are familiar with the leadership styles of both men cautioned that both Putin and Trump are sensitive to criticism. Andrey Kortunov, director general of the Russian International Affairs Council, expressed concerns to Reuters about Trump being an untested politician and unpredictable. Additionally, there were worries that Putin and Trump might have similar personalities as they are both seen as macho. Sergei Markov, a Kremlin-connected analyst, highlighted this issue to Reuters. "They could attempt to gauge each other's capabilities. We cannot allow that to occur."