President Vladimir Putin of Russia had fun Thursday at Joe Biden’s expense, saying his “crazy son of a bitch” comments showed why he had Moscow’s backing in this year’s presidential election.
He delivered his verdict on the day he taunted the West with a ride in a modernized Tu-160M supersonic strategic nuclear bomber.
On Wednesday, Biden described the Russian leader as a “crazy son” during a reception with supporters in California, where he said climate change was a bigger threat to humanity than even nuclear war.
Putin responded with a mocking smile as he told state television: “We are ready to work with any president.”
“But I think for us, Biden is a more preferable president for Russia, and judging by what he just said, I’m absolutely right.”
Vladimir Putin mocked the West by taking a ride in a modernized Tu-160M supersonic strategic nuclear bomber today, as the Kremlin threatened nuclear war.
A day earlier, President Joe Biden called Putin a “crazy son” as his administration plans new sanctions. Putin seemed to enjoy the comments and used them to gently mock the United States.
The exchange comes as the Biden administration plans more sanctions after the death in a Siberian penal colony of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny.
At the same time, Moscow is increasing threats of a nuclear attack amid reports that it plans to place a nuclear weapon in space.
Republicans have followed Donald Trump’s lead and been quiet in their criticism of Putin, while the Russian leader has said he would prefer Biden to remain in power because he is more “predictable.”
Biden’s comments initially drew the ire of Moscow and the Kremlin said Biden had demeaned the United States.
Putin was more playful.
“It’s not like he can tell me: ‘Volodya, thank you, well done, you’ve helped me a lot,'” Putin said.
‘You asked me which one is best for us. I said it then and I still think I can say it again: Biden.”
It was all part of a day designed to irritate his opponents in the West and distract from condemnation of his role in Navalny’s death.
The Tupolev Tu-160M Ilya Muromets strategic bomber is seen on the snow-covered runway in Kazan.
Vladimir Putin speaks after flying a modernized Tu-160M nuclear-capable strategic bomber, in Kazan, Russia
He spent 40 minutes flying the warplane, sending a message that he had no intention of backing down from the war in Ukraine, which he invaded nearly two years ago.
But by flying a type of fighter jet that has been used to wreak havoc in Ukraine with conventional weapons, he was sending a message that he intends to keep fighting in Ukraine, which he invaded nearly two years ago.
And the massive Tu-160M - also known as the White Swan – is a key part of its nuclear strike force at a time when the Kremlin bluntly warns the West about the risk of nuclear war.
Putin was seen taking off in Kazan a day after visiting a factory in the city where Tupolev bombers are made.
He climbed a ladder in the factory to enter the plane and spent ten minutes in the cabin.
He then made the decision to fly one of their bombers himself, his first flight since taking off in a Tu-160 in 2005.
The giant swing-wing aircraft is a substantially modernized version of a Soviet-era bomber that the USSR would have deployed in the event of a nuclear war with the West to deliver nuclear weapons over long distances.
The TU-160M is capable of carrying 12 cruise missiles or 12 short-range nuclear missiles and can fly 7,500 miles non-stop without refueling.
Biden is on the third day of a three-day fundraising trip to California. He gave a speech about debt forgiveness in Culver City before flying to San Francisco on Wednesday.
Biden made an unannounced stop at CJ’s Cafe in Baldwin Hills on Wednesday before continuing on to Culver City to deliver his speech at the library.
He arrived in San Francisco on Wednesday afternoon, where he was greeted by former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. They traveled together on Marine One to a campaign reception.
The election stunt came less than a week after a man who wanted to overthrow him as president, Navalny, was “murdered” inside his grim Arctic prison.
Although the March election is expected to be rigged in Putin’s favor, he is currently more visible on state television than he has been in years.
An entertaining report on Russian state television controlled by Putin said: “We just saw that President [Vladimir Putin] Again, for the second time in two days, he climbed into the cockpit of a Tu-160 strategic bomber.
On the tarmac, his spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Putin had “made the decision to take a flight.” There will be a flight [with Putin] now.’
Putin later emerged from the Tu-160M to praise the upgraded aircraft – the model he had flown – as suitable for the Russian air force.
‘The technology is excellent. “You can be accepted into the Armed Forces,” he stated.