How the world is reacting to the victory of the “Putin brand”

Western leaders are not in a hurry to comment on the next re-election of Vladimir Putin to the presidency. Observers point out a muffled reaction in the world to his election victory.

Photo by: kremlin.ru

Chinese President Xi Jinping noted in this regard that relations between Russia and China are currently at the “best level,” writes Air force.

Putin received more than 76% of votes, according to official results. He stated that he was pondering over new candidates for ministerial posts, including the post of prime minister.

In his congratulatory message, the Chinese leader said: “Currently, the China-Russia full-scale strategic partnership is at the best level in history, and this sets an example for building a new type of international relations.”

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic was one of the first to congratulate Putin, saying in his message that “the extraordinary talent of a leader, a clear vision, a strong will, as well as your responsibility and commitment, will lead to a successful resolution of all the problems that Russia is now facing.”

“Serbia is a truly reliable friend of Russia, and you can count on our contribution to deepening cooperation between our countries, as well as the implementation of joint projects,” Vucic said in his congratulations.

Best wishes, among others, to Putin were sent by the leaders of Kazakhstan, Belarus, Venezuela, Bolivia and Cuba.

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe also congratulated Vladimir Putin, discussing with the Russian president joint efforts to denuclearize North Korea, as well as economic projects on the disputed Kuril Islands and “humanitarian measures” regarding former Japanese settlers.

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani congratulated Putin on his “convincing victory” and promised to develop ties between the countries.

“I am confident that during your new term, relations between our countries will develop even better,” Rouhani said.

Both countries have strengthened relations in recent years at the expense of common interests in Syria, providing substantial financial and military support to President Assad.

“Merkel will congratulate you later”

Western leaders reacted with restraint to this victory. Tensions between Russia and the West deepened in the last two weeks after the former double agent Sergey Skrypal was poisoned in Salisbury, for which the British authorities blamed the Kremlin.

However, German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier congratulated Vladimir Putin on his re-election as Russian president and wished Russians “prosperity under your rule,” Steinmeier said in a statement released Monday by the president’s press service.

“We have always considered close cooperation between Russia and Germany part of the pan-European effort to create and strengthen a lasting order on our continent after the end of the Cold War,” Steinmeier said in his congratulatory message.

Angela Merkel will later congratulate Putin, but the message will raise problems in the relationship as Berlin and Moscow disagree on a range of issues, from Russian politics to conflicts in Ukraine and Syria, a spokesman for the German chancellor said.

“Nevertheless, constant contact with the Russian leadership is very important for us,” Merkel’s spokesman said.

German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas was more critical and said on Monday that Russia would remain a "difficult partner" after Putin's re-election but could not be counted out of tackling international problems. He also questioned the integrity of the past elections.

“We are no more surprised by the results of the Russian elections than by the circumstances in which they are taking place,” Maas told reporters ahead of EU member-state talks in Brussels. “It is clear that we cannot talk about fair political struggle as we know it.”

Maas called the fact that voting took place in Crimea unacceptable. “In this sense, we expect Russia to remain a difficult partner,” he concluded.

The representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Federica Mogherini, commented only on the recent poisoning in Britain of former GRU colonel Skripal, calling it “completely unacceptable.”

European newspapers: “4 wars and a new round of popularity”

Leading French, Spanish and Portuguese newspapers did not express surprise at Putin’s victory.

Right-centrist Spanish weekly newspaper El Mundo came out with the headline “Vladimir Putin: a mixture of multipolar novelty and Soviet nostalgia.”

The newspaper notes that “Putin’s brand” offers democracy without risks, but also without changes.”

Left-centrist El Pais writes that Putin’s audacity and tactical foresight have become a legend. “He stabilized the situation in the country, strengthened the army, strengthened the country’s position on a global scale and weakened many of its enemies.”

Nevertheless El Pais blames it on the president for the fact that a country with such huge resources has such a weak economy.

Portuguese Diario de noticias reports that "the Russian president has now vowed to use his new term to strengthen Russia's defenses against the West and improve the quality of life for the 144 million people in the world's largest country."

The French press is pondering whether the new confrontation with the West has brought more votes to Putin? Some newspapers believe that his victory will further complicate the situation in Europe, which may now become less liberal and more like Russia.

French business newspaper Les Echos notes that Putin is celebrating his victory on the 4 anniversary of the annexation of the Crimea, where he received almost 1 million votes.

Newspaper Le Monde notes the dependence of fluctuations in Putin’s popularity on the “rhythm of his wars”: the Chechen campaign, the war with Georgia, the annexation of Crimea and the conflict in Donbass and, finally, military operations in Syria.

The newspaper notes that “the four wars that passed through the 18 years of his reign turned into a new round of popularity.”

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