Merdeka.com – The Kremlin was furious at the statement by the President of the United States (US) Joe Biden who called Russian President Vladimir Putin “a killer”, said the statement was unprecedented and called relations between the two countries “very bad”.
However, on Thursday, Putin invited Biden to hold an online discussion after the comments were made in a television interview.
In an interview on ABC broadcast on Wednesday, Biden said Putin “will pay the price” for his efforts to undermine the 2020 election process following a US intelligence community assessment report that found the Russian government was trying to interfere in the US election with the aim of harming Biden’s candidacy and supporting Donald Trump.
When host George Stephanopoulos asked him if he thought Putin was a “killer,” Biden replied, “Hmmm, yes.”
Responding to the comments, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters on Thursday, “There has never been anything like this in history.”
Peskov made it clear that Biden “definitely does not want to improve relations” with Russia and relations between the two countries are “very bad”.
“This is a very bad statement by the President of the United States. “He definitely does not want to improve relations with us, and we will continue to do so,” he explained, quoted from CNN, Sunday (21/3).
Russia also withdrew its ambassador from the US on Wednesday, during which Peskov revealed that Ambassador Anatoly Antonov had been drawn to Moscow to discuss US-Russian relations. Peskov said there were currently no plans for Putin to meet Antonov, but if necessary Putin would discuss with him.
Putin himself commented on Biden’s statement on Thursday, saying, “I will invite President Biden (the opportunity) to continue our discussion, but due to conditions we will do it in person, online. Without prior recording, in an open and direct discussion. “
“It seems to me that it will be interesting for the people of Russia and the people of the US, as well as for many countries,” Putin added.
Russian state media TASS reported that Putin had invited Biden to hold discussions on Friday or Monday.
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Joe Biden has no regrets
White House press secretary Jen Psaki is considering the invitation, saying he is not sure whether the discussion will be something the government will accept.
Psaki said President Biden had spoken with President Putin, and according to him there were many other world leaders who President Biden had not met.
“And we are engaged with Russian leaders, members of the government, at all levels. But I have nothing to report to you in relation to the upcoming meeting, ”he explained.
Putin previously responded to Biden’s comments at a press conference, wishing Biden was in good health.
“That’s right, we really know each other personally. What will I tell him? I will say: be healthy, “said Putin.
“I hope he is in good health. I say this without irony, without jokes. This is the first of all, “he continued.
“When we judge people, countries, and other nations, we always look in the mirror. We always see ourselves. We always convey to others what is really in us, “continued Putin.
“When we were children, when we argued with others, we said: ‘He who takes names speaks for himself.’ It’s not a coincidence, it’s not just a childish joke, it has a very deep psychological meaning. “
Earlier on Thursday, Psaki said Biden did not regret his comments, saying, “No. The President gives direct answers to direct questions. “
When asked whether the “killer” language was constructive for US-Russian relations, Psaki did not answer.
“President Biden has known President Putin for a long time, they both have been on the world stage for a long time working through the many iterations of the relationship between the United States and Russia. And he believes we can continue to do that, “he explained.
The US, Psaki said, was confident it could work with Russia in the area of ”common national interest,” however, “the president will not hold back, obviously, when he has concerns, whether it is with words or actions.”
When asked whether the President’s statement could increase tensions with Moscow, Psaki stressed that Ambassador John Sullivan was still in Moscow.
“We continue to believe diplomacy is the first step and should always be the first step, it should be our goal, because we pursue all relations – even with our enemies,” he concluded.
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