Putin insists on having a conversation with Biden on Monday if it is not possible this Friday
Erdogan calls US president’s comments “unacceptable”.
The Russian authorities have advocated this Friday to avoid a cold war with the United States, although they have warned that the country is prepared for “all possible scenarios”.
At a press conference, Kremlin spokesman Dimitri Peskov has refused to address the statements of some experts about the start of a new cold war with Washington, especially following comments recently made by US President Joe Biden that he has accused his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, of being a “murderer”.
Thus, Peskov has indicated that “observers and experts make their living, precisely, with such forecasts.” However, he has assured that the Russian side “always trusts the best”, although being “prepared for the worst at all times.”
The spokesman for the Russian Government has indicated that the president has expressed “clearly” his desire to continue with bilateral relations between the two countries “in spite of everything”, because this is “in the interest of the whole world”.
“Now, we cannot ignore Biden’s words,” he said, a day after the Russian Foreign Ministry called its ambassador to the United States, Anatoli Antonov, for consultations to address the future of relations between the two countries after Biden’s statements. The ambassador is scheduled to travel to Moscow, the Russian capital, this Saturday.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has been quick to react to Biden’s words about Putin, calling the remarks “unacceptable” and “inappropriate”. The daily newspaper ‘Daily Sabah’ has thus reported that the president has defended Putin, whom he has praised for “doing what is necessary to give an intelligent and elegant response.”
CONVERSATION WITH BIDEN
In an interview with ABC television on Wednesday, Biden said he believes Putin “has no soul” and assured that he “will pay a price” for interfering in the November 3 presidential elections. His words came after the intelligence of the North American country released a report accusing Russia, Iran, Cuba and Venezuela of trying to influence the elections.
Putin, on his part, responded to Biden’s words and urged him to “look in the mirror”, although he wished him “good health.” He also recalled that he was willing to have a conversation with Biden on Monday, “if it can’t be this Friday.”
Peskov has thus insisted that Moscow is ready to dialogue with the US government at any time “that suits Biden,” according to information from the TASS news agency.
The White House, however, has not yet accepted the offer, although press chief Jen Pskai has indicated that Biden will travel to Georgia on Friday, so it is unlikely that he will be able to hold a conversation with Putin.
“Following the initiative of President Putin, the Russian side is showing willingness and has expressed it through the corresponding diplomatic channels. We will await a response,” said Peskov, who has stated that the call will have to be made as soon as Monday since Putin is scheduled to leave Moscow this weekend to travel to the Siberian taiga.
As the Sputnik news agency has indicated, Putin is scheduled to go with Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu on a trip that he hopes will help him “get some rest.” The Russian president often goes to the taiga when he has days off, a gesture that, according to Peskov, shows his “love for Russia and his geography.”
