Special Message From China
Chinese leader Xi Jinping, who has been recently re-elected himself, was among the first to congratulate the president on his re-election. In his telegram, the Chinese head of state expressed readiness to work on the development of Russia-China relations.
"Currently, the comprehensive, strategic Russian-Chinese cooperation and partnership, are at an unprecedented high level, and have served as an example of a new type of international relations, based on mutual respect, equality and mutually beneficial cooperation," Xi said.
The Chinese president said “In recent years, the Russian people have shown unity and solidarity, they are resolutely moving forward toward the development and revival of a strong country, and significant results have been achieved in the country's socio-economic development. Russia plays an important constructive role in international affairs.”
Meanwhile, the spokeswoman for the Chinese Foreign Ministry, Hua Chunying, said that Beijing is expecting Russian President Vladimir Putin to visit China in 2018, according to the tradition of visits between the Russian and Chinese heads of state. The diplomat added that Russia, under the leadership of Putin, would maintain stability and keep developing and playing an even more significant role in the international arena.
Speaking to his campaign team immediately after the elections, Putin named China as Russia's strategic partner and said that Russia plans to expand their partnership
"China is our strategic partner. The level of relations between Russia and China is unprecedentedly high. We value this very much. We congratulate Xi Jinping on his re-election as PRC leader and we express our confidence that China under his leadership and Russia, on our side, will do everything to increase the interaction of the two countries," he said.
European Union's Congratulations
Germany
German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Monday congratulated Vladimir Putin on his re-election as the Russian president, the chancellor's press service said.
"My cordial congratulations on re-election as the Russian president," the press service said in a statement.
The chancellor also noted the importance of maintaining dialogue and strengthening German-Russian relations, as well as working on challenging issues of the international agenda, according to her congratulatory message.
German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier congratulated Russian President Vladimir Putin on his re-election, stressing that bilateral relations between Germany and Russia are traditionally close and have a solid foundation. The press release announcing the congratulatory message was published on his website.
"I hope that we will be able to resist the division on our continent and between people in Russia and Germany and that you will use your new term for this. To do this, we should continue the dialogue within the framework of trust," Steinmeier’s address stated.
Meanwhile, new German foreign minister Heiko Maas said that Russia will remain a difficult partner. Before the annual meeting of the EU foreign ministers he said that despite all the odds, the EU must be able to continue its dialogue with Russia.
“Russia will remain a difficult partner. But Russia will also be needed for solutions to the big international conflicts and so we want to remain in dialogue,” said Maas.
He also questioned the fairness of the elections, saying “The result of the election in Russia was as unsurprising to us as the circumstances of the election. We can’t talk about a fair political competition in all respects, as we would understand it.”
Italy
Italian politicians, European Parliament member Matteo Salvini and Giorgia Meloni, the leader of the right-wing party "The Brothers of Italy" congratulated Putin on the victory.
"Congratulations to Vladimir Putin on his reelection ... The will of the people in these Russian election seems unquestionable," Meloni wrote on Twitter.
Complimenti a Vladimir #Putin per la sua quarta elezione a presidente della Federazione russa. La volontà del popolo in queste elezioni russe appare inequivocabile.
— Giorgia Meloni ن (@GiorgiaMeloni) March 18, 2018French right-wing National Front party on Monday congratulated Russian President Vladimir Putin on his re-election, stressing that his victory confirmed the will of Russian people to continue on the path of reforms.
France
French President Emmanuel Macron in a phone talk with Russian President Vladimir Putin wished the Russian leader success in the modernization of politics and democracy in Russia, the Elysee Palace said in a Monday statement.
Earlier in the day, the French leader had a phone conversation with Putin, who secured a fourth term in the Sunday election.
"The president of the republic addressed Russia and its nation on behalf of France, wishing it to be successful in modernizing its politics, democracy, economy and social sphere," the statement said.
According to the statement, the French president called for a constructive dialogue between Russia, France and Europe.
A France's right-wing party, the National Front, has also congratulated the re-elected president.
"The National Front congratulates Vladimir Putin on his re-election as head of the Russian state. This broad electoral success confirms the stability and democratic foundations in Russia, it shows the desire of Russian people to follow the path of reforms undertaken by President Putin," the party said in a press release.
The party of Marine Le Pen also called on the European Union to review its "counterproductive" policy toward Russia.
"This election has to make the EU to review its position and put an end to an absurd and counterproductive policy of blackmail, threats and sanctions ... One needs to stop viewing Russia as an enemy and resume a dialogue with a vital ally in a fight against terrorism and our common enemy, the Islamic State [IS, terrorist group banned in Russia]," the party noted.
Transnistria
The head of the self-proclaimed republic of Transnistria, Vadim Krasnoselsky, has expressed his congratulations to Vladimir Putin on being re-elected as Russia's president, the press service of the Transnistrian leader said Monday.
"Your landslide victory in the election is the guarantee of Russian people’s trust in you as a politician and a person, a true patriot of great power," the Krasnoselsky‘s letter to Putin read.
The head of Transnistria expressed his confidence that Russia, with Putin as its leader, will continue to strengthen its positions by pursuing independent economic and international policies. He said that for Transnistria, Russia is a power on which the Transnistrian people’s hopes for freedom and peaceful development are based, the press release stated.
Congratulations From ‘US' Backyard
A Venezuelan government statement said that the country’s president Nicolas Maduro “is congratulating Russian President Vladimir Putin on his re-election for the 2018-2024 period."
READ MORE: Presidential Election 2018: Preliminary Results Call Putin to Win
Congrats From the Middle East
Egypt
Egyptian President Abdel Fattah Sisi was the first leader from the Middle East to congratulate Putin on securing his leadership. According to the Egyptian presidential administration, he wished the Russian president every success and expressed hope for "further developing and promoting cooperation on behalf of the two friendly nations." He also wished the Russian people progress and prosperity.
Syria
Syrian head of state Bashar al-Assad has also sent his congratulations to Putin in the address, published by his press office.
Iran
Iranian President Hassan Rouhani congratulated Vladimir Putin on re-election as the Russian president and expressed confidence that the bilateral ties between the two countries would develop further, according to a statement issued on the president's website.
"The admirable holding of the presidential election in Russia and your Excellency's landslide victory in the election was good news. Expressing my sincerest congratulations on this occasion, I am confident that in your Excellency's new term of office, relations between the two countries will develop," the statement read.
Rouhani noted in a statement that he was satisfied with the progress Moscow and Tehran have reached over the recent years. He wished Putin success in the new term and prosperity to Russia.
Saudi Arabia
Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud has sent a telegram to Russian President Vladimir Putin congratulating him on the reelection on behalf of the Saudi people and government, the Saudi government’s press service said Monday.
"On my own behalf, on behalf of the Saudi people and the government I express sincere congratulations and warm wishes in connection with your election for a new presidential term, and wish you health and success," the telegram read, as quoted by the press service.
The Saudi king also wished Russian citizens "even bigger progress and prosperity,” noting the “uniqueness" of the relations between the two countries.
The United Arab Emirates, Dubai
The President of the United Arab Emirates Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan has also sent his congratulations to Vladimir Putin in his message to the Russian president, noting that the UAE Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, and Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan had joined the congratulations.
Kuwait
Emir of Kuwait Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah has joined the congratulations row, sending a telegram to Putin on Monday, conveying his sincere congratulations and wishing success, according to Kuwait News Agency.
Neighbors Calling
Kazakhstan
The Kremlin press service informed that Kazakh president Nursultan Nazarbayev was among the first foreign heads of state to congratulate Putin on his re-election, and the two leaders reaffirmed the allied and strategic nature of relations between the two countries. According to the press release, "Late in the evening on March 18, 2018, immediately after the announcement of the preliminary results of the presidential elections in Russia, Kazakh President Nazarbayev called President Putin and warmly congratulated him on the decisive victory. The Russian and Kazakh leaders reaffirmed in the phone call the allied, strategic nature of relations between the two countries."
Uzbekistan
Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev has also congratulated Putin following his a landslide victory in the Russian election.
"The results of the recent election have shown yet again the great trust and enormous support of the Russian people for the carefully thought-out and precise policy which has been implemented under the leadership of Vladimir Putin and aimed at the consolidation of Russian society, improving the quality of life, modernizing economy, infrastructure and state management, strongly defending state sovereignty and strengthening Russia in its role as a key global power," his message stated, according to the press service.
Congratulations from Japan
Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has also called Putin to congratulate him on his reelection, expressing his readiness to enhance relations between the two countries.
“The sides discussed the issue of signing a peace treaty, as well as efforts to implement joint economic activities on the four islands of the Northern Territories [the Southern Kuril Islands] and humanitarian measures for former Japanese residents of the islands,” the statement of the Japanese Foreign Ministry said.
The ministry noted that the sides had also addressed the North Korea nuclear issue, as well as exchanged their views on the poisoning of former Russian intelligence officer Sergei Skripal. Abe stressed that the use of chemical weapons is not acceptable.
India's Congratulations
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has called Russian President Vladimir Putin to congratulate him on the victory in the presidential election, the Indian Ministry of External Affairs said Monday in a press release.
"The Prime Minister had a telephone call with the President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin to congratulate him on his victory in the Presidential elections held in Russia yesterday. Conveying his compliments on Mr. Putin's success, the Prime Minister expressed the hope that under Mr. Putin's leadership, the 'Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership' between India and the Russian Federation will continue to grow from strength to strength," the press release read.
The Indian prime minister has also said that he looked forward to Putin's visit to India for the Annual Summit later this year, the ministry added.
