US presidential election: Vladimir Putin considers Joe Biden more “predictable” for Moscow than Donald Trump

A few months before the US presidential elections, the Kremlin already has its own opinion about the future tenant of the White House. Vladimir Putin assured on Wednesday that his American counterpart Joe Biden is more “predictable” for Moscow than his likely rival Donald Trump, but that Moscow is ready to “work” with the winner of the US vote, whoever it is.

When asked by a journalist which president would be better for Russia before the elections in November, the Russian president replied: “Biden is the more experienced person. He’s predictable, he’s an old-fashioned politician,” although Donald Trump has been accused in recent years of playing into Russia’s hands.

However, the Russian president refused to comment on the debate in the United States about the age of the Democratic Party candidate. “When I met Joe Biden in Switzerland, it was three years ago, although we already talked about his incapacity, but I didn’t see anything like that,” he said. “Yeah, he looked at his notes, and to be honest, I looked at mine. Nothing serious,” he continued, as quoted by The Financial Times.

‘Extremely harmful and misguided’ policy

The Kremlin leader called for more attention to be paid to the “political position and position of the current (US) administration” towards Russia, which he considers “extremely harmful and wrong.” But whatever the outcome of the vote, Moscow “will work with any American leader who is trusted by the American people,” he said.

The United States presidential campaign was rocked last week by a judge’s damaging comments about the 81-year-old president’s failing memory. The conclusion was rejected by his camp. As for Donald Trump, the favorite in the Republican primaries and therefore a likely rival to Joe Biden, in recent years he has been accused of supporting Moscow. In Congress, his aides are blocking $60 billion in financial aid to Ukraine. The former Republican head of state has also angered Europe in recent days by recently threatening to encourage Russia to attack NATO countries whose defense spending he deems insufficient.

In his speech on Wednesday, Vladimir Putin seemed to prove his point. “There is no logic from the point of view of the Europeans who want the US to continue to perform certain functions for free, as they have done since the creation of NATO,” he accused. Before continuing: “If the United States believes that it no longer needs NATO, that is its decision,” the likely candidate of the American right has “his own ideas about how relations between the United States and its allies should develop.”

Donald Trump responded to the comments during a meeting in South Carolina on Wednesday night, calling them a “great compliment” without really explaining why. “I got along well with (Vladimir Putin), but he doesn’t want me, he wants Biden,” he said, assuring that the Democratic Party leader would “offer Ukraine” to the Russian president.