The Kremlin has instructed Russian state-run and pro-government media to reduce mentions of US President Donald Trump following his phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin on 12 February, aiming to emphasise Putin as the primary decision-maker in US-Russia relations, Meduza has reported.

The directive, issued after the 90-minute call, reflects Kremlin concerns that Trump could be perceived as more proactive and decisive than Putin. The Kremlin’s domestic policy team instructed media outlets to present the call as Putin’s initiative and a diplomatic success for Russia, while downplaying Trump’s role, according to the Riga-based outlet.

A political strategist working with the Kremlin told Meduza that this strategy underscores broader anxieties over public perception. Highlighting Trump’s decisiveness, the strategist noted, could lead to unfavourable comparisons that make Putin appear passive or weak—an image the Kremlin is determined to avoid.

The new guidelines also advise against fostering unrealistic optimism about future US-Russia relations. Media outlets were directed to stress that the call effectively sidelined Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy and the EU from significant roles in peace negotiations, reinforcing a narrative that Kyiv and Brussels are losing influence in global diplomacy. The call was also to be framed as evidence of an emerging multipolar world order with Russia at its centre.

Following the directive, Russian media swiftly adjusted coverage. Lenta refocused headlines to highlight Putin’s role, while Gazeta reported that Trump agreed with Putin on the need for a lasting resolution to the conflict, reversing the perceived direction of influence.

The Kremlin’s urgency in controlling the narrative highlights growing domestic interest in Trump, whom many Russians view as a symbol of political change. A Kremlin-linked strategist noted that Trump’s policies—such as cutting wasteful spending and dismissing ineffective officials—resonate positively with Russians unfamiliar with US political complexities, prompting comparisons with Russia’s leadership that the Kremlin is eager to neutralise.