Russian President Vladimir Putin challenged President Biden to an on-air conversation to discuss Biden’s latest warning that Putin “would pay a price” after a report containing evidence of attempted Russian interference in the 2020 elections.
“I just thought about it now,” Putin told a reporter in Moscow on Thursday. “I want to invite President Biden to continue our discussion, but on the condition that we actually do it live. But without delay, directly in an open and direct discussion.”
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Putin said that, like the two main superpowers in the world, he thinks the dialogue would be interesting for the people of the US and Russia, as well as for the international community.
Biden made headlines this week after an interview with George Stephanopoulos of ABC, when the president was asked if he thought Putin was a “killer”, to which he replied “Yes”.
Putin responded on Thursday, saying, “It takes one to know one.”
The White House did not immediately respond to Fox News questions about whether Biden plans to speak publicly to Putin.
At a news conference on Thursday, White House press secretary Jen Psaki, when asked by reporters whether Biden regretted his statements, Psaki said, “No.”
“The president gave a direct answer to a direct question,” she added.
Putin suggested keeping the conversation live as early as Friday or Monday, adding that he wants to “relax a little” this weekend by going to the forest region in northern Russia, known as tiaga.
“We are ready at any time that is convenient for the American side,” he added.
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A declassified report released on Tuesday by the Office of the Director of National Intelligence in the United States, found that while no foreign powers “manipulated election results,” Russia sought to influence public opinion in opposition to Biden.
“The price he will pay, well, you will see soon,” threatened Biden.
Russia called back its ambassador to the United States after the president’s comments.
Morgan Phillips contributed to this report.