MOSCOW (AP) — Champagne corks popped Friday in Moscow as Russians celebrated the start of Donald Trump’s presidency, confident of better relations ahead between the two countries.
“It’s weird, but it’s great, and for the first time ever Russians are applauding the victory of a U.S. presidential candidate,” political analyst Stanislav Byshok said.
Trump’s promises to fix ravaged relations with Moscow have elated Russia’s political elite following spiraling tensions with Washington over the Ukrainian crisis, the war in Syria and allegations of Russian meddling in the U.S. election.
“We are ready to do our share of the work in order to improve the relationship,” Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev said on Facebook.
About 100 Trump sympathizers, nationalists and spin doctors gathered at a trendy loft just a few hundred meters away from the Kremlin to celebrate Friday, with a triptych of Trump, Russian President Vladimir Putin and French nationalist politician Marine Le Pen in the center of the hall.
People watch the presidential inauguration ceremony for Donald Trump in a network and party location in Moscow, Russia, Friday, Jan. 20, 2017. A hundred Trump sympathizers, nationalist activists and spin doctors gathered at a hipster party location several hundred meters away from the Kremlin to celebrate. (AP Photo/Ivan Sekretarev)
http://www.limaohio.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/54/2017/01/web1_114628618-336b67fec8f04f26ad2f9e4e2c79e989-2.jpgPeople watch the presidential inauguration ceremony for Donald Trump in a network and party location in Moscow, Russia, Friday, Jan. 20, 2017. A hundred Trump sympathizers, nationalist activists and spin doctors gathered at a hipster party location several hundred meters away from the Kremlin to celebrate. (AP Photo/Ivan Sekretarev)
The U.S. Embassy building is reflected in a window of a Russian military outerwear shop "Armia Rossii" (Russian Army) displaying a poster of Donald Trump, in downtown Moscow, Russia, Friday, Jan. 20, 2017, hours ahead of Donald Trump being sworn in as president of the United States, The poster reads: "10 percent discount to the embassy employees and US citizens on the Inauguration Day". (AP Photo/Pavel Golovkin)
http://www.limaohio.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/54/2017/01/web1_114628618-10e6989009f346259ac64bb8f1cc6612-2.jpgThe U.S. Embassy building is reflected in a window of a Russian military outerwear shop "Armia Rossii" (Russian Army) displaying a poster of Donald Trump, in downtown Moscow, Russia, Friday, Jan. 20, 2017, hours ahead of Donald Trump being sworn in as president of the United States, The poster reads: "10 percent discount to the embassy employees and US citizens on the Inauguration Day". (AP Photo/Pavel Golovkin)
Visitors arrive for a party at a nightclub in Moscow, Russia, on Thursday, Jan. 19, 2017. Twenty-four hours before Donald Trump is to be sworn in as president of the United States, people gathered at a Moscow nightclub to celebrate his inauguration.(AP Photo/Ivan Sekretarev)
http://www.limaohio.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/54/2017/01/web1_114628618-50c803307b6d4bbf8fb68c0d268ff0c9-2.jpgVisitors arrive for a party at a nightclub in Moscow, Russia, on Thursday, Jan. 19, 2017. Twenty-four hours before Donald Trump is to be sworn in as president of the United States, people gathered at a Moscow nightclub to celebrate his inauguration.(AP Photo/Ivan Sekretarev)
