Russia salutes Obama

MOSCOW: Russia on Wednesday expressed relief as it congratulated Barack Obama on his victory over a US presidential election rival who once notoriously branded Moscow as Washington’s main foe.

The Kremlin said President Vladimir Putin reacted “positively” to Obama’s victory

over Mitt Romney while others expressed satisfaction at having narrowly avoided dealing

with a Republican who sometimes spoke in tones from the Cold War. Putin’s office also issue a statement inviting Obama to visit Moscow for the first time since the Russian leader’s March re-election to a third term “in the coming year”.

“Vladimir Putin especially underscored (in his telegram) the progress in Russia-US relations over recent years, expressing the hope for further constructive mutual cooperation,” the Kremlin statement said.

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