Trump's victory in the election may lead to a significant benefit for Moscow - the removal or reduction of Western sanctions. These sanctions were imposed by the US and EU as a response to Russia's actions in Crimea and eastern Ukraine in 2014. If these sanctions are lifted, it could boost investment in Russia's struggling economy, making it easier for Putin to win a fourth term as president in 2018. Charles Robertson, global chief economist at Renaissance Capital, believes that the chances of sanctions being lifted on Russia have increased, which would improve the investment environment in the country. Following Trump's election victory, Russia's rouble currency and stocks saw an increase in value. Conversely, Ukraine's dollar-denominated bonds experienced a decline to multi-month lows, reflecting concerns about the implications of a Trump presidency for the country. The Kremlin had anticipated strained relations with a potential Clinton presidency, as she was previously accused by Putin of inciting protests against him. In contrast, Trump was portrayed in a more favorable manner, with Putin describing him as "very talented" and Kremlin-backed media depicting him as a bold political outsider. Despite initial skepticism in Moscow, a group of Trump-supporting nationalists at a bar celebrated his victory with a triptych of Putin, Trump, and Marine Le Pen. Russia's parliament applauded his win, and Putin expressed readiness to restore ties with Washington. State TV showed a Russian Trump lookalike mocking Clinton, while RT's boss planned to drive around Moscow with a US flag. However, there was concern that Trump's promises may not be fulfilled and that tensions between Moscow and Washington will persist, despite a friendly public demeanor between Trump and Putin. Congressional restrictions could also limit Trump's efforts to ease sanctions on Russia. Executives from Western companies believe that the main hindrance to making deals with Russia is not the current sanctions, but rather the fear of additional sanctions being imposed and the strict enforcement of existing ones. 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 more relaxed stance from the US could also undermine the determination of European countries to uphold sanctions. Some member states within the bloc are already finding 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, the US has played a role in strengthening European solidarity on the issue. When Russia issued a Eurobond in May, numerous European banks opted out to avoid potential repercussions from US financial regulators. Political analyst Masha Lipman noted that America's influence has kept Europe united on sanctions, but with Donald Trump as President, there could be a shift that benefits Russia. Putin is eager to have sanctions lifted as they could harm his chances for re-election. Russia's central bank is predicting economic growth of around 1 percent next year, much lower than what Russian households are accustomed to. In the past, foreign lending and investment have driven recoveries after economic slumps. There are indications that the economy's struggles are weakening support for Putin, a trend that is expected to continue leading up to the next Russian presidential election in 18 months. Experts on Russian politics say that even with a less hostile relationship with the US under Trump's presidency, any potential agreement would require tough negotiations from both sides. Russia is pushing for international recognition of Crimea as part of its territory, a goal that has only been achieved by a few countries so far. Additionally, Russia wants Ukraine to do more to implement a peace agreement in eastern Ukraine, where pro-Russian separatists have influence. In Syria, Russia is assisting President Bashar al-Assad in the war through air strikes and military support. Russia is urging the West to abandon ideas of changing the government, cease support for what it considers to be hardline Islamists, and refrain from discussing potential no-fly zones. There is a possibility of a trade-off, with Russia offering concessions on Syria in exchange for the United States making compromises on Ukraine and sanctions. According to Georgy Bovt, editor of Russkiy Mir magazine, Russia's main focus is Ukraine, and if Trump indicates that the US is not concerned about Ukraine, Russia will be satisfied. Bovt believes that reaching a deal on Syria will be easier in this scenario. I believe that Russia will be willing to compromise on Assad because Ukraine is more important to them. There has been a lot of discussion in both Russian and Western media about the similarities and differences between Putin and Trump, despite the fact that 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 even mentioned the possibility of meeting Putin before his inauguration, but Putin's spokesman 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 they are both sensitive to criticism. Andrey Kortunov, the director general of the Russian International Affairs Council, which is closely linked to the Foreign Ministry, expressed concerns about Trump being an inexperienced politician, describing him as unpredictable. Additionally, there were worries that Putin and Trump may have similar personalities, as they are both seen as strong and assertive. "They could attempt to evaluate each other. We must prevent that from occurring."