U.S President, Joe Biden agreed that Russian President Vladimir Putin is a “killer,” and said in an interview with ABC News that Russia would pay for alleged interference in U.S. elections.
In an interview with ABC News, Biden was asked about a US intelligence report that Putin tried to harm his candidacy in the November 2020 election and promote that of Donald Trump.
“He will pay a price,” the 78-year-old Biden said. “You’ll see shortly.”
After ABC News Chief Anchor George Stephanopoulos asked Biden if he believes Putin is “a killer,” Biden murmured agreement and said “I do,” without elaborating.
Vyacheslav Volodin, the speaker of the lower house of Russia’s parliament and a longtime Putin ally, dismissed Biden’s comments as “hysterics born of helplessness,” saying they “insult the citizens of our country.”
Many officials in Putin’s government and associates of the Russian leader already live under U.S. sanctions due to previous rounds of punishment for election interference, attacks on political opponents and Russia’s annexation of Crimea from Ukraine, leaving unclear what Biden may target.
New U.S. sanctions could come as soon as next week and may target Russia’s oligarchs and others close to Putin, according to two people familiar with the matter. The impact of the penalties may be muted, as Russians hit with U.S. sanctions usually don’t maintain U.S. bank accounts or have plans to travel to the country.
