Russia praises Putin, says Trump a victim of ‘irrational critics’

Russian President Vladimir Putin gestures during an interview with "Fox News Sunday" host Chris Wallace after his meeting with President Donald Trump in Helsinki, Finland, Monday, July 16, 2018. (Alexei Nikolsky, Sputnik, Kremlin Pool Photo via AP)

El presidente ruso, Vladimir Putin, le da un balón de fútbol al presidente Donald Trump, izquierda, durante una conferencia de prensa después de su reunión en el Palacio Presidencial en Helsinki, Finlandia, el lunes 16 de julio de 2018. (Alexander Zemlianichenko / AP)

U.S. President Donald Trump speaks with Russian President Vladimir Putin during a press conference after their meeting at the Presidential Palace in Helsinki, Finland, Monday, July 16, 2018. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais)

MOSCOW — For Vladimir Putin, holding a summit with Donald Trump was a victory in itself.

While the U.S. leader went home to widespread criticism after their Monday meeting, the Russian president came home to universal praise in Moscow.

Despite no major breakthroughs, says Alexander Gabuev of the Carnegie Moscow Center, Putin ably won over his domestic audiences, notably by pushing back at accusations of Russian election meddling with his own accusations against the U.S.

However, Russian commentators aren’t saying Putin vanquished Trump. Instead they’re sympathizing with Trump, portraying him as a victim of irrational domestic critics and pinning hopes on him for improving relations.

Vladimir Olenchenko of Russia’s Institute of Global Economics and International Relations expressed hope that “Trump will have enough political will … to overcome the resistance and continue dialogue with Russia.”