Several months prior to the US presidential election, the Kremlin airs its view on the potential next occupant of the White House. Vladimir Putin professed on Wednesday that Joe Biden, his American counterpart, was more “predictable” to Moscow than his likely competitor, Donald Trump. However, Putin affirmed that Moscow was prepared to “work” with whoever would emerge victorious in the US election.
When prodded by a reporter about which presidential candidate would be more beneficial for Russia before the upcoming November election, the Russian president responded: “Biden is more experienced. He is predictable and a traditional politician,” despite the allegations levelled against Donald Trump in recent years of playing into Russia’s hands.
Putin, however, declined to weigh in on the ongoing debates in the USA about the Democratic candidate’s age. He shared his experience of meeting Joe Biden in Switzerland three years ago, saying, “We discussed his incapacity then, but I noticed no such thing,”. “Yes, he referred to his notes, but honestly, so did I. Nothing major,” he added, as reported by The Financial Times.
The Russian leader urged for more concentration on “the political stance and the current (US) administration’s position” with regards to Russia, which he declared as “extremely damaging and incorrect”. However, Putin assured that regardless of the election outcome, Moscow “will collaborate with any American leader that the American public trusts,”.
Last week, the US presidential campaign was rocked by damning remarks from a judge about the failing memory of the 81-year-old American president, a claim denied by his team. Meanwhile, Donald Trump, the likely Republican primary frontrunner and potential opponent of Joe Biden, has been accused of showing favoritism towards Moscow in recent years. His aides are currently blocking $60 billion in financial assistance to Ukraine in Congress. The former Republican president has also recently sparked outrage in Europe by threatening to incite Russia to attack NATO countries whose defense spending he deemed inadequate.
In his Wednesday speech, Vladimir Putin appeared to validate these allegations. He criticized European countries for expecting the United States to continue performing certain functions for free, as it has since NATO’s inception. “If the United States believes it no longer requires NATO, that’s their decision,” he stated, implying the likely right-wing American candidate has “his own ideas on how US relations with its allies should evolve.”
Donald Trump responded to these remarks at a South Carolina gathering on Wednesday night, deeming them “a great compliment”, without elaborating further. “I had a good rapport with (Vladimir Putin), but he doesn’t want me, he wants Biden,” Trump stated, asserting that the Democratic leader “would hand over Ukraine” to the Russian president.
