congratulated president-elect trump. >> translator: we have heard his electoral slogans when he was still a candidate. he spoke with resuming and restoring relations with russia. we understand the way to that will be difficult, taking into account the current state of degradation of relations between russia and the united states. >> reporter: tensions between the two countries have sky rocketed in recent years, with profound disagreements over russia's aggression in ukraine and syria. nato expansion and, most recently, alleged russian hacking of democratic party e-mails. trump has been critical of nato and has indicated he may accept russia's annexation of crimea from ukraine. music and russia's ears. >> you know, the people of crimea, from what i have heard, would rather be with rush than where they were. >> reporter: he has also refused to finger russia for the e-mail hacks, has suggested working with them in syria in the fight against isis and has spoken positively about president putin. the big question here in russia