Guess who was one of the first national leaders to congratulate Donald Trump on his victory? Why Vladimir Putin, of course. Never one to hang around when opportunity calls, the Russian President found the necessary accoutrements of national flag, crested lectern and microphone, and expressed his best wishes for Trump in his new high office and his hopes for establishing a “constructive dialogue” between Moscow and Washington.
Now there are some good reasons why Putin was so quick out of the blocks. Moscow is eight hours ahead of New York time, and he had just attended an unrelated event in the Kremlin that supplied both the media audience and the backdrop appropriate to such a message. Putin is a stickler for protocol, especially when it serves to remind everyone that Russia is the equal of the US (sort of). Putin was the first leader to ring George W Bush with Russia’s condolences after 9/11, a gesture Bush remembered with due gratitude and Putin traded on ever after.