Vladimir Putin sensationally claimed in an interview with Russian state television that Donald Trump ‘scolded’ him for ‘sympathizing’ with President Joe Biden back in 2019.
In the wide-ranging interview, in which Putin issued a threat that his forces are ready to use nuclear weapons should Washington ever decide to put boots on the ground in Ukraine, the autocrat also said his government would not interfere in the US election .
‘In the last year of his work as president, Mr. Trump, today’s presidential candidate, me for having sympathized with (Joe) Biden …. He said to me in one of the conversations: you will – sorry, I will say it the way he said it, this is a quote – “Sleepy Joe to win,” Putin said, according to a translation via Reuters.
And then, to my surprise, they started persecuting him (Trump) because we supposedly supported him as a candidate. Well, that’s kind of complete nonsense,’ Putin continued.
When asked about Russian hackers meddling in the US election at the behest of the Kremlin, Putin dismissed the idea.
Russian President Vladimir Putin gives an interview to TV host and director general of Rossiya Segodnya (RIA Novosti) news agency Dmitry Kiselyov at the Kremlin in Moscow on March 12, 2024
Putin said Trump called Biden ‘Sleepy Joe’ in their phone call
Previously, Putin said in February that he would prefer Biden to Trump as US president, saying Biden was more experienced and more predictable
‘We do not interfere in any way in any election. And, as I’ve said many times, we will work with any leader that the American people, the American voter, trusts,” he said.
Putin said Russia would be ready to use nuclear weapons if its sovereignty was threatened.
The Russian leader launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine and is almost certain to win the March 15-17 presidential election.
Interviewing Putin for the RIA state news agency and Rossiya-1 state television was Russian veteran Dmitry Kiselyov, who has long been accused of running a soapbox news program for the Kremlin.
Kiselyov, who has been married eight times, is known for his views on traditional relationships and regularly condemns homosexuality, once suggesting that the organs of LGBTQ people should be burned after their deaths.
Previously, Putin said in February that he would prefer Biden to Trump as US president, saying Biden was more experienced and more predictable.
They were rare praise for Biden, a fierce critic of the Russian leader who has often praised Trump.
Putin spoke with one of his most ardent TV propagandists, Dmitry Kiselyov
“Biden, he is more experienced, more predictable, he is a politician of the old formation,” Putin said when asked which candidate would be better for Russia. “But we will work with any American leader that the American people trust.”
Putin’s motives for saying Biden is a better choice for Russia were unclear, but the claim was eyebrow-raising given past U.S. administration assessments of the Russian leader’s support for Trump and the Kremlin’s efforts to tip U.S. elections in his favor.
The apparent approval was not welcomed by the White House. Asked during a briefing in February about Putin’s remarks, national security spokesman John Kirby replied: ‘I think Mr. Putin is well aware of what this administration has done to counter Russia’s malign influence around the world.’
‘Sir. Putin should just stay out of our elections,” Kriby added.
Trump, however, immediately hailed the statement at a campaign rally Wednesday night, calling it a “great compliment” to him.
US intelligence agencies concluded that Putin ordered a covert campaign to sway the 2016 race in favor of Trump over Democratic challenger Hillary Clinton, with Russian agents hacking Democratic emails and facilitating their release in the run-up to the election.
Recently, intelligence agencies concluded that Putin had authorized influence operations in the 2020 election aimed at disparaging Biden, boosting Trump, undermining confidence in the poll and exacerbating social divisions in the United States
Trump and Putin, who have often praised each other in the past, have rejected such findings.
Putin also blasted the White House’s policy towards Russia, describing it as ‘badly flawed and wrong’.