'Outraged by Murderer Remark,' Putin Proposes Public Debate with Biden

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Yujin Cho] After President Joe Biden called Russian President Vladimir Putin a "killer," Vladimir Putin proposed a live broadcast "debate."

On the 18th (local time), President Putin appeared on Russian state TV and said, "I want to propose to President Biden that we continue the debate," adding, "However, it must be an open and direct discussion online without delay."

Putin suggested specific dates, saying he needs to rest in the Siberian taiga forest this weekend, so the debate should be held on the 19th or the 22nd.

He stated that he is ready to talk about many issues, including bilateral relations and resolving regional conflicts, and that the U.S. struggles with COVID-19 response could also be on the agenda.

President Biden, in an interview with ABC News the previous day, responded "Yes" when asked if he thinks Putin is a killer. This was interpreted as a response based on the judgment that the Russian government was involved in the poisoning incident of Navalny.

This interview came after the release of a classified document from the U.S. Director of National Intelligence (DNI) revealing that President Putin approved a scheme to re-elect former President Donald Trump and defeat then-Democratic candidate Biden in last year's U.S. presidential election. In the interview, President Biden warned that Russia would pay a price for interfering in the U.S. election.

The Biden administration plans to announce sanctions related to Russia's election interference scheme next week. Although details of the sanctions have not been disclosed, it is reported that blocking the construction of the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline, which directly connects Russia and Germany, is being considered.

Regarding Biden's "killer" remark, President Putin retorted, "If you call others that, you yourself will be called the same."

Meanwhile, Dmitry Peskov, the Kremlin spokesperson, issued a statement criticizing the remark as "very bad and unprecedented in history," adding, "It is clear that the U.S. does not want to normalize relations with Russia."

In response to the U.S.'s continuing hostile actions, Russia urgently recalled its ambassador to Washington.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.