By Abiola Olawale
President Vladimir Putin has responded to President Joe Biden’s comments, stating that he wished his American counterpart “good health.”
The New Diplomat had reported that in an interview with ABC News broadcast on Wednesday, Biden agreed with the assessment that his Russian counterpart is a ‘killer’.
The comment by Biden has in turn escalated the tense relations between Russia and U.S.
Reacting to the comment, Putin appeared to be more sanguine over the comments.
Putin who was addressing a press conference on Thursday, said he wished President Biden well, adding that Russia will continue working with the United States if the conditions benefit Russia.
In his words, “It is true, we really know each other personally. What would I answer him? I would tell him, be healthy. I wish him good health. I say this without irony, no jokes.”
Similarly, Dmitry Peskov, Putin’s spokesman, said the statements are “unprecedented” in the history of Russian-U.S. relations.
In his words, “These statements from the president of the United States are very bad. It is clear that he does not want to get the relationship with our country back on track, and we will proceed from that.”
Additionally, the Russia government has summoned its ambassador to the United States back to Moscow for consultations.
This was disclosed by Konstantin Kosachyov, the deputy chairman of the Russian parliament’s upper house.
Kosachyov who took to his official Facebook handle, demanded for a public apology from Biden.
The Facebook post reads: “This is a watershed moment. This gross statement sends any expectations from the new U.S. administration’s new policy toward Russia down the drain. Recalling the Russian ambassador from Washington to Moscow for consultations is a prompt and adequate reaction, the only right one in this situation. I suspect that it will not be the last [step] if the American side does not offer its explanation and apology.”
It would be recalled that Biden’s interview came on the heels of a report by the U.S. Office of the Director of National Intelligence Council (NIC).
The report which was titled, “Foreign Threats to the 2020 US Federal Elections” alleged that Putin interfered in the 2020 US election.
According to the report, the Russian government organizations allegedly conducted operations aimed at denigrating President Biden’s candidacy and the Democratic Party, in a bid to support the candidacy of former President Donald Trump.
The report partly reads, “We access that Russian President Putin authorised, and a range of Russian government organizations conducted, influence operations aimed at denigrating President Biden’s candidacy and the Democratic party, supporting former President Trump, undermining public confidence in the electoral process, and exacerbating socio-political divisions in the US. Unlike in 2016, we Didi not see persistent Russian cyber effects to gain access to election infrastructure. We have high confidence in our assessment…”
However, the Russian government immediately denied the findings of the report, saying they were “absolutely unfounded.”
