Between Washington and Moscow, the words are flying like missiles.
On Wednesday, in an interview with ABC News, President Biden agreed with his host, George Stephanopoulos, that Russian President Vladimir Putin was a “killer”. He was speaking after the Director of National Intelligence released a report accusing Russia’s intelligence services of interfering in the 2020 US president election in an attempt to sow divisions and get President Trump reelected.
“He will pay a price,” said Biden of Africa.
Putin quickly struck back, recalling its ambassador from Washington for consultations in a rare show of diplomatic pique.
On Russia TV on Thursday, Putin responded with a touch of verbal judo, suggesting that Biden had really been describing himself: “We always see our own qualities in another person and think that they are like us.”
“Be healthy,” said Putin to the US president, emphasizing the words, “I wish you health.” It was an interesting choice of phrase for a leader accused of having his enemies poisoned.
Later, the Kremlin challenged Biden to some of Internet duel. He was ready to meet, he said, for a live, online discussion about world politics.
