Saturday, June 12, 2021

Putin laughs off ‘killer’ comments ahead of summit with Biden

 

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Russian President Vladimir Putin laughed off the idea that he could be considered a “killer,” but expressed a willingness to work with President Biden in an interview with NBC News ahead of the two leaders’ summit Wednesday in Geneva.

Vladimir Putin wearing a suit and tie: Russian President Vladimir Putin takes part in the launch of Gazprom's Amur Gas Processing Plant via videolink at the Novo-Ogaryovo residence outside Moscow on Wednesday.© Sergei Ilyin/AP Russian President Vladimir Putin takes part in the launch of Gazprom's Amur Gas Processing Plant via videolink at the Novo-Ogaryovo residence outside Moscow on Wednesday.

In a clip that NBC News posted before airing the full interview on Monday, Putin described Biden as a “career man” who has “spent virtually his entire adulthood in politics,” making him a very different type of politician than former president Donald Trump. “It is my great hope that, yes, there are some advantages, some disadvantages, but there will not be any impulse-based movements on behalf of the sitting U.S. president,” Putin said.

In March, George Stephanopoulos of ABC News asked Biden: “So you know Vladimir Putin. You think he’s a killer? Biden responded: “I do.” In the NBC interview, Putin chuckled when asked about the characterization, then said he is used to facing “attacks from all kinds of angles.” He steered clear of criticizing Biden, saying that “harsh rhetoric” is part of U.S. political culture.


Video: Psaki: Biden Putin summit not a 'reward' for Russia (Associated Press)

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