Putin says Russia prefers Biden to Trump because he’s ‘more experienced and predictable’

President Vladimir Putin mentioned Wednesday that Russia would like to see President Joe Biden win a second time period, describing him as extra skilled than Donald Trump.

Speaking in an interview with a correspondent of Russian state tv, Putin declared that he’ll work with any U.S. chief who’s elected, however famous unequivocally that he would like Biden’s victory when requested who can be a better option from the perspective of Russia.

“Biden, he’s more experienced, more predictable, he’s a politician of the old formation,” Putin mentioned. “But we will work with any U.S. leader whom the American people trust.”

Asked about hypothesis on Biden’s well being points, Putin responded that “I’m not a doctor and I don’t consider it proper to comment on that.”

Biden’s workforce labored to alleviate Democratic issues over alarms raised by a particular counsel about Biden’s age and reminiscence. They got here in a report figuring out that Biden wouldn’t be charged with any legal exercise for possessing labeled paperwork after he left workplace.

Putin famous that the discuss Biden’s well being comes as “the election campaign is gaining speed in the U.S., and it’s taking an increasingly sharp course.”

He added that allegations of Biden’s well being issues had been additionally circulating on the time after they met in Switzerland in June 2021, including that he witnessed the opposite and noticed the U.S. chief in a good condition.

“They talked about him being incapacitated, but I saw nothing of the kind,” Putin mentioned. “Yes, he was peeking at his papers, to be honest, I was peeking at mine, not a big deal.”

At the identical time, Putin famous that he sees the Biden administration coverage as improper.

Russia-West ties have plunged to their lowest ranges for the reason that Cold War period after Putin despatched his troops into Ukraine in February 2022.

“I believe that the position of the current administration is badly flawed and wrong, and I have told President Biden about that,” Putin mentioned.

Putin has claimed that he has despatched troops into Ukraine to guard Russian audio system there and to stop a menace to Russia’s safety posed by Ukraine’s bid to affix NATO. Ukraine and its Western allies have denounced Moscow’s motion as an unprovoked act of aggression.

Putin argued that Moscow was compelled to behave after Ukraine and its allies refused to satisfy a 2015 settlement to grant extra powers to separatist territories in jap Ukraine, the place Moscow-backed separatists launched a insurrection in 2014.

“We only can regret that we didn’t act earlier, thinking that we are dealing with decent people,” Putin mentioned.

Asked about Trump’s assertion on Saturday, by which he mentioned he as soon as warned he would enable Russia to do no matter it needs to NATO member nations which are “delinquent” in devoting 2% of their gross home product to protection, Putin responded that it’s as much as the U.S. to find out its position within the alliance.

Trump’s assertion sharply contrasted with Biden’s pledge “to defend every inch of NATO territory,” because the alliance commits all members to do in case of assault. It shocked many in Europe, drawing a pledge from Poland, France and Germany to bolster Europe’s safety and protection energy.

Putin famous that Trump’s assertion adopted his coverage throughout his first time period when he prodded NATO allies in Europe to extend their protection spending.

“He has his own view on how relations with allies should develop,” Putin mentioned about Trump. ”From his perspective, there’s some logic on this, whereas from the perspective of the Europeans, there isn’t a logic in any respect, and they want the U.S. to maintain finishing up some features they’ve fulfilled for the reason that formation of NATO freed from cost.”

He described NATO as a “U.S. foreign policy tool,” including that “if the U.S. thinks that it no longer needs this tool it’s up to it to decide.”

Asked about his impressions from his final week’s interview with former Fox News host Tucker Carlson, Putin mentioned he anticipated Carlson to be extra aggressive. Putin used the interview to push his narrative on the preventing in Ukraine, urge Washington to acknowledge Moscow’s pursuits and press Kyiv to sit down down for talks.

“I expected him to be aggressive and ask the so-called tough questions, and I wasn’t only ready for it but wanted it because it would have given me a chance to respond sharply,” Putin mentioned.

Carlson didn’t ask Putin about warfare crimes Russian troops have been accused of in Ukraine, or about his relentless crackdown on dissent.

“He didn’t allow me to do what I was ready for,” Putin mentioned, describing Carlson as a “dangerous man.”

The Associated Press