As of: February 15, 2024, 9:08 a.m
By: Stefan Krieger
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Vladimir Putin comments on his preferred outcome of the 2024 US election. Donald Trump takes note of it with satisfaction.
Washington/Moscow – Praise for the current US president or rather a plus point for the former one?
In his own words, Russian head of state Vladimir Putin finds another term in office for US President Joe Biden more desirable than a return of Donald Trump to the White House.
When asked by a journalist on Russian state TV which winner Russia would like in the 2024 US election in November, Putin replied on Wednesday (February 14): “Biden, he is more experienced.
He’s predictable, he’s an old-school politician.”
The Russian government will “work with any US leader in whom the US people have trust,” Putin assured.
Moscow continues to criticize the USA
Addressing widespread concerns about Biden's advanced age of 81, the Russian president said: "In fact, when I met Mr. Biden three years ago, people were already talking about his shortcomings, but I haven't seen anything like that." According to US polls, U.S. voters have grave concerns about the Democrat's ability to hold office given his advanced age.
Vladimir Putin during an interview with the correspondent of the Russian state television Rossiya 1. © Alexander Kazakov/dpa
However, Putin also expressed clear criticism of US foreign policy under Biden on Wednesday.
“What we need to examine is the political stance, and that of the current government is extremely harmful and wrong,” the Kremlin leader said.
Biden is a staunch supporter of Ukraine, against which Russia has been waging a military offensive for almost two years.
Donald Trump sees “big compliment”
Trump viewed Putin's comments on Wednesday at a campaign event in the US state of South Carolina as a "great compliment."
The Republican told his supporters about Putin: "I get along well with him, but he doesn't want me, he wants Biden." Then he added: "Biden will give him Ukraine."
Trump told his supporters it was no surprise that Putin wanted to see Biden in the White House.
He pointed out that during his first term in office he stopped Nord Stream 2 - a Russian pipeline that would double the export of Russian natural gas to Germany.
Trump imposed sanctions on the Russian state-owned gas company behind the pipeline in December 2019.
Biden's administration lifted these sanctions in May 2021.
“I stopped it, it was dead, it was a dead deal,” Trump said on stage in South Carolina.
“[Biden] came into office and immediately approved it,” he continued.
"I said, 'I can't believe it.'"
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Biden tougher on Putin than Trump
Biden has repeatedly criticized Putin sharply.
His Republican predecessor Trump, however, has repeatedly expressed his admiration for the Kremlin boss.
Trump also said at a rally on Saturday that he would not come to the aid of NATO countries that do not spend enough on defense in an attack.
He would then even encourage Russia to do “whatever they want” with them.
This triggered sharp criticism from the USA's partner countries and US President Biden.
“For God’s sake, that’s stupid, that’s shameful, that’s dangerous, that’s un-American,” Biden said.
Biden with misfires – just like Trump
The US President, for his part, repeatedly gives rise to discussions with slips of the tongue and mix-ups.
Biden recently confused the late former Chancellor Helmut Kohl with the former Chancellor Angela Merkel, and also the late French head of state François Mitterrand with the incumbent Emmanuel Macron.
The Republicans enjoy exploiting Biden's verbal missteps - even though their prospective presidential candidate Trump, who is also 77 years old, also repeatedly raises eyebrows by mixing up names and making bizarre statements.
Experts have suggested in the past that Putin is hoping Trump will win a second term so he can negotiate a peace deal in Ukraine that would be beneficial to Russia.
Trump himself has repeatedly announced that he could end the almost two-year war within 24 hours - if he was president again.
(skr/afp)