Putin had said earlier this year, before President Joe Biden withdrew from the US presidential race said he preferred him over Trump
By Kehinde Okeowo
Russian President, Vladimir Putin, has declared his support for United States Vice President, Kamala Harris in the November US presidential election.
He made the ironic remark a day after the U.S. Justice Department charged two Russian media executives over an alleged illegal scheme to influence the election with pro-Russian propaganda.
Putin had said earlier this year, before President Joe Biden withdrew from the race – also with apparent irony – that he preferred him over Trump because Biden was a more predictable “old school” politician.
Asked how he viewed the election between Harris and Republican candidate, Donald Trump now, Putin told the economic forum in Russia’s far east that it was the choice of the American people.
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He, however, added that as Biden had recommended his supporters to back Harris, “we will do the same, we will support her”.
Putin and the moderator were both smiling as he made the remark, which drew applause from the audience.
Expanding on his view of Harris, Putin said: “She laughs so expressively and infectiously that it means that everything is fine with her.”
He added that maybe this meant she would refrain from further sanctions against Russia. By contrast, Putin said that Trump, as president, had introduced more sanctions against Russia than anyone in the White House before him.
“Ultimately, the choice is up to the American people, and we will respect that choice,” the Kremlin leader concluded.
Prior to Putin’s remarks, U.S. intelligence had determined that Russia ran a disinformation campaign to boost Trump’s campaign against Hillary Clinton in the 2016 election.