New stage in the deterioration of relations between the United States and Russia. In an interview broadcast Wednesday, March 17, Joe Biden said he thought his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin was “a killer”, and promised that he would pay “the price”, immediately causing indignation in Moscow.
“Do you think he’s a killer?” The question of George Stephanopoulos, star journalist of the American channel ABC, is direct, and the answer of the President of the United States leaves no room for doubt: “Yes”, he agreed in this interview. “You will soon see the price he will pay”, he added.
EXCLUSIVE: Pres. Biden told @GStephanopoulos that he agreed Russian President Vladimir Putin is a “killer” and will “pay a price” for interfering in U.S. elections. https://t.co/rIe2ms8sSv pic.twitter.com/VtAGCvF9hp
– Good Morning America (@GMA) March 17, 2021
He did not say whether he was thinking of the poisoning of Russian opponent Alexei Navalny in August, blamed by the United States on Russia. The opponent was imprisoned on his return to Russia after five months of convalescence in Germany, and Washington is demanding his release.
In a first reaction from a high-ranking Russian official, the president of the lower house of parliament and close to Vladimir Putin denounced “hysteria due to impotence”.
“Putin is our president and an attack on him is an attack on our country”, wrote on his Telegram account Vyacheslav Volodin. “With his statements, Biden insulted the citizens of our country”, added the one who was number 2 in the Russian presidential administration between 2011 and 2016.
Since his arrival at the White House in January, President Biden has displayed great firmness towards the master of the Kremlin, as opposed to the benevolence often criticized for his predecessor, Donald Trump, even in the Republican camp. The tenant of the Oval Office, however, reaffirmed that he wanted to be able to “to work” with the Russians “when it is in our common interest”, like the extension of the New Start nuclear disarmament agreement, decided shortly after he came to power.
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