Russian President Vladimir Putin has responded to remarks by his American counterpart that he is a “killer” by repeating a playground that “those in glass houses should not throw stones”.
Mr Putin, who spoke to Russian state television, also wished Joe Biden ‘best health’.
Some Russian critics of Biden claim the 78-year-old suffers from dementia.
Earlier this week, the US president was questioned on TV and asked if he thought the Russian leader was a ‘killer’. Mr. Biden answers: “Yes, I do”, an answer that angered Moscow.
These were the first remarks President Putin made following Mr. Biden’s ABC interview.
Putin was asked about Biden’s comments during a video call commemorating the Russian annexation of Crimea in 2014, and he said the comment reflected the United States’ own problems.
He pointed to the US nuclear bombing of Japan during World War II, as well as its history of slavery and the slaughter of Native Americans, noting the painful legacy that the United States weighs.
Otherwise, where would the Black Lives be? [Matter] movement coming from? He said, referring to racial injustice and the killing of African Americans.
The Russian leader’s comments follow a furious reprimand earlier Thursday by the Kremlin spokesman.
Spokesman Dmitry Peskov spoke to journalists during his daily press conference, describing the US president’s comments as “very bad” and suggesting that such comments were without historical precedent.
“It shows that he definitely does not want to build a relationship with our country,” he said. “And things will flow from this.”
Russia has recalled its US ambassador in a sign of icy relations between the two nuclear powers.
There was much criticism of the remarks of Mr. Praying in Russia.
Dmitry Medvedev, the deputy head of the Russian Security Council who served as president from 2008-2012, said that ‘time did not spare Biden’ and quoted Sigmund Freud as saying: ‘Nothing costs life as much as illness and stupidity. . ‘
Konstantin Kosachyov, a foreign policy expert recently appointed deputy speaker of the upper house, said Moscow was investigating a number of reactions in the event that no apology was received.
He said the words of Mr. Bidding is “unacceptable” and will lead to deteriorating relations between Washington and Moscow.
Kosachyov, usually one of Moscow’s more diplomatic voices, said he hoped Mrs’s answers Praying of ‘age’ and ‘hearing problems’ was followed.
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Diplomatic games: a poster with images of a Soviet and American flag advertises the legendary music game ‘Chess’ in Moscow on Thursday
(AFP / Getty)
Other lieutenants of the Russian political class said Mr. Biden’s comments are described as ‘political madness’ and ‘hysteria’.
Vyacheslav Volodin, the speaker of the Russian lower parliament, said Vladimir Putin was offending the entire Russian nation.
“No one should talk like that about the head of state,” he said.
Andrei Turchak, general secretary of the ruling United Russia party, said the response from Mr. Biden represents the ‘age-related dementia of American leadership’.
The exchange of difficult statements follows a declassified report by the U.S. National Intelligence Director’s office that found Putin had authorized influence over operations to try to help Trump in his failed attempt to re-elect in November.
The Kremlin dismissed the report as unfounded. However, President Biden said there would be consequences.
‘[Putin] will pay a price, ‘said Mr. Biden said in the interview about the declassified report.