Russia’s Putin a ‘killer’ who ‘will pay a price’ for interfering in US election, Joe Biden says
- His comments came the same day as a US intelligence report that Putin ordered operations to hurt Biden’s candidacy in the 2020 election
- A long-time Putin ally dismissed the remarks as ‘hysterics born of helplessness’, saying they ‘insult the citizens of our country’
Putin “will pay a price” for the interference, Biden said. In a “long talk” with the Russian leader, Biden said he told him, “I know you and you know me. If I establish this occurred, then be prepared.”
After ABC News Chief Anchor George Stephanopoulos asked Biden if he believes Putin is “a killer,” Biden murmured agreement and said “I do”, without elaborating.
Russia’s rouble sank as much as 1.6 per cent to 74 per dollar, its biggest intraday loss since February 25. The benchmark MOEX index also extended declines. Ten-year bond yields were up three basis points at 6.84 per cent, near their highest in a year.
Vyacheslav Volodin, the speaker of the lower house of Russia’s parliament and a long-time Putin ally, dismissed Biden’s comments as “hysterics born of helplessness”, saying they “insult the citizens of our country”.