Russian President Vladimir Putin, in an interview aired on Wednesday, expressed his preference for Joe Biden over Donald Trump but indicated his readiness to collaborate with any incumbent US president.
When questioned by interviewer Pavel Zarubin regarding who would be more favorable for Russia between Biden, a Democrat, and Trump, a Republican, Putin promptly responded, stating, "Biden. He is a more experienced, predictable individual, a seasoned politician from the traditional school." He further added, with a faint smile, "Nevertheless, we are prepared to engage with any US president whom the American electorate trusts."
This marks the first instance of Putin publicly addressing the upcoming 2024 US election, in which Biden and Trump are anticipated to vie against each other for the second consecutive time.
Given the current high levels of political uncertainty in the United States and the strained relations between the two nations, Putin's remarks are likely to be interpreted more as provocative rather than taken at face value.
Biden has been at the forefront of the Western response to Russia's 2022 incursion into Ukraine, spearheading initiatives such as the expansion of the NATO alliance, the imposition of successive rounds of sanctions on Moscow, and the provision of substantial aid and weaponry to Kyiv.
In light of Trump's previous reluctance to criticize Putin during his initial presidential term and his recent remarks, including those made over the weekend where he suggested he would endorse Russian actions against NATO members failing to meet defense spending commitments, many of his detractors believe he would adopt a more lenient stance towards the Kremlin leader.
Putin took the liberty to offer his insights on both candidates and even broached the delicate topic of Biden's cognitive capabilities, despite asserting it would be inappropriate to meddle in the electoral process.
Reflecting on his meeting with Biden in Switzerland a few years ago, Putin dismissed assertions about the latter's purported decline in mental acuity. Additionally, he referenced an incident that caused embarrassment to the US leader when he bumped his head while disembarking from a helicopter last June, stating, "Well, who among us hasn't had a similar mishap?"
Regarding Trump, Putin noted, "He has been labeled as a non-conformist politician; he holds his own perspective on how the United States should manage its alliances."
Putin has maintained a position of influence as either president or prime minister since 1999, yet at 71 years old, he is a decade younger than Biden and six years junior to Trump. He is poised to secure another six-year term in the forthcoming election next month, despite the disqualification of two candidates who opposed the Ukrainian conflict due to the submission of invalid documentation.
In 2020, a report by the US Senate Intelligence Committee uncovered Russian attempts to sway the outcome of the 2016 US presidential election in favor of Trump, who emerged victorious over Hillary Clinton.
