Russia called its Washington envoy back to Moscow on Wednesday for consultations after President Biden referred to his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, as a “killer” and said Putin would “pay a price” for meddling in the 2020 US election.
“The Russian ambassador in Washington, Anatoly Antonov, has been invited to come to Moscow for consultations conducted with the aim of analyzing what should be done and where to go in the context of ties with the United States,” the Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement, according to reports.
Biden made the comments about Putin during an interview on ABC’s “Good Morning America” following the release of a declassified report from the Director of National Intelligence that claimed the Kremlin interfered in the presidential election.
“He will pay a price. We had a long talk, he and I, I know him relatively well,” Biden said. “And the conversation started off, I said, ‘I know you and you know me. If I establish this occurred, then be prepared.’ ”
“Look, the most important thing dealing with foreign leaders in my experience — and I’ve dealt with an awful lot in my career — is just know the other guy.”
Asked if he thinks Putin is “a killer,” Biden responded, “I do.”
Biden also claimed he and the Russian leader had a conversation about the fact that he doesn’t believe Putin has a soul.
Biden said he told the Russian leader, “I said, ‘I looked through your eyes, and I don’t think you have a soul,’ ” the president told ABC’s George Stephanopoulos — and Putin looked back and replied, “We understand each other.”
With Post wires
