Joe Biden vows Vladimir Putin will 'pay a price', Russia recalls US ambassador
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.” On being asked Biden if he believes Putin is “a killer”, Biden murmured agreement and said “I do,” without elaborating.
FollowWashington: President Joe Biden said Russian President Vladimir Putin will face consequences for directing efforts to swing the November 2020 US presidential election to Donald Trump, and that they would come soon.
“He will pay a price," Biden told ABC News in an interview broadcast on Wednesday. Asked what the consequences would be, he said, "You’ll see shortly.”
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.” On being asked Biden if he believes Putin is “a killer”, Biden murmured agreement and said “I do,” without elaborating.
The comments were aired as the US Commerce Department announced it was toughening export restrictions imposed on Russia as punishment for Navalny's poisoning.
Meanwhile, Russia responded by summoning its US ambassador back to Moscow for consultations on Wednesday after Joe Biden described Vladimir Putin as a "killer" who would "pay a price" for election meddling, prompting the first major diplomatic crisis for the new American president.
"The Russian ambassador in Washington, Anatoly Antonov, has been invited to come to Moscow for consultations conducted with the aim of analyzing what should be done and where to go in the context of ties with the United States," the Russian foreign ministry said.
A US intelligence report on Tuesday bolstered longstanding allegations that Putin was behind Moscow`s election interference, an accusation Russia called baseless.
At the same time, Biden noted that "there`s places where it`s in our mutual interest to work together" such as renewing the START nuclear agreement, adding that the two leaders have a known history.
"I know him relatively well," Biden said, adding that "the most important thing dealing with foreign leaders in my experience ... is just know the other guy."
(With inputs from agencies)
