On Thursday, Russian President Vladimir Putin expressed support for Kamala Harris in the upcoming U.S. presidential election, marking a shift in his stance toward American politics.
This comes after Putin previously criticized the U.S. political system, describing it as “rotten” and suggesting that Washington had no right to lecture other nations on democracy.
Speaking during a Q&A session at the Eastern Economic Forum in Vladivostok, Putin remarked, “President Biden has encouraged his supporters to back Mrs. Harris. We will do the same. She has a contagious laugh that shows she’s doing well.”
Putin also noted that former President Donald Trump had imposed more sanctions on Russia than any other U.S. leader, hinting that a Harris presidency might take a different approach. “If she is doing well, maybe she will refrain from such actions,” he added.
In February, Putin had expressed his preference for Biden over Trump, calling the current U.S. president “predictable.” Meanwhile, the White House has urged Putin to “stay out” of American elections.
Putin’s remarks came a day after the U.S. imposed sanctions on top editors of the Russian state-controlled media network RT, accusing them of attempting to interfere in the upcoming U.S. election.
