Former US President Joe Biden was “removed” from the presidential contest, and Moscow now backs Vice President Kamala Harris, who replaced him on the Democratic Party ticket, according to Russian President Vladimir Putin. Vladivostok, in the Russian Far East, is home to an economic summit where Putin stated that Moscow “will support her.” “If I may say so, Mr. Biden, the president of the United States, was our favourite. Although he was disqualified from the contest, he advised all of his followers to back Ms. Harris. We will also do that. We’ll stand by her,” he declared.

However, he continued, what matters most is the decision made by the American people, not what Russia believes or endorses. It’s not for us to decide who the favourites are. The American people still have a say in it,” he emphasised. Putin then made light of the fact that Harris “laughs so expressively and contagiously,” implying that “she is doing well” and that she won’t be adding to Russia’s sanctions. Putin’s comments attracted an immediate censure from Washington, despite his qualification that the American people make the final decision.

Putin should, in fact, cease discussing our elections. According to US National Security Council spokesman John Kirby, “He shouldn’t be favouring anybody one way or the other.” Kirby addressed reporters. A day after the US announced accusations over purported Russian efforts to influence the polls on November 5, Kirby went on to say that Putin “should also stop interfering” in the election. Biden was scheduled to run as the Democratic Party’s nominee in this year’s US presidential election. However, on July 21, he declared his withdrawal from the contest and his support for Harris. The Republican Party chose former President Donald Trump, who has more cordial ties with Putin than either Biden or Harris.