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US election: why a Joe Biden win is likely to be bad news for Russia
- Alarmed at the prospect of a White House without Trump, Moscow is trying to determine what that’ll mean for sensitive issues from nuclear arms to China ties
- With so much at stake, Russia’s already meddling in the election campaign, according to US officials
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In Moscow, analysts for the Kremlin and its security council are working overtime to war-game scenarios for a Joe Biden presidency.
Increasingly alarmed at the prospect of a White House without Donald Trump, Russia is trying to determine what that’ll mean for sensitive issues from nuclear arms to relations with China, energy exports, sanctions and far-flung global conflicts, according to people familiar with the efforts.
Though few see much prospect for improved ties if Trump is re-elected, Biden would likely be bad news for Russia, people close to the leadership said.
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A Democratic victory may even give the Kremlin another reason to tear up its own electoral calendar, moving up parliamentary elections to the spring to get them out of the way before a new administration has time to impose additional sanctions or other penalties, according to a person close to the Kremlin, who spoke on condition of anonymity to express that opinion.
With so much at stake, Russia’s already meddling in the campaign, according to US officials. But the situation is different from 2016, when Trump’s victory surprised even his backers in Moscow.
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Trump vs Biden: The 2020 US presidential election
Trump vs Biden: The 2020 US presidential election
US politics have become so polarised that there’s little need for Russia to step in and invent new controversies, according to a senior British intelligence official. Russia is nonetheless conducting a “very active” campaign to denigrate Biden and sow divisions in the US political scene, FBI Director Christopher Wray said last week.
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