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After Biden’s victory in the US elections was officially confirmed, Russian President Putin wished the future US president success. A Kremlin statement said Moscow was “ready to cooperate.”
As one of the last heads of state, Russian President Vladimir Putin congratulated the future president of the United States, Joe Biden, on his electoral victory. Just six weeks after the election, the Kremlin chief wished Biden success in a congratulatory telegram. Biden’s victory was confirmed by a clear majority of the US electorate on Monday night.
“For my part, I am ready to cooperate and get in touch with you,” Putin wrote in the telegram to Biden, according to the Kremlin. Regardless of their differences, Russia and the United States could work together to solve many problems and challenges in the world, Putin said. Moscow and Washington have a special responsibility for security and stability in the world.
The two largest nuclear powers are currently fighting to extend their latest “New Start” nuclear disarmament agreement, which ends in February. Relationships are strained in many areas. Biden had announced a harsher course in dealing with Moscow. Among other things, Russia is accused of interfering in the 2016 US elections to help Donald Trump win.
Putin wanted to wait for the official result of the elections.
Putin’s congratulations came shortly after state election officials confirmed Biden’s victory over incumbent Donald Trump. Many other heads of state and government had already contacted the president-elect in November.
According to previous information from the Kremlin, Putin wanted to wait for the official result of the elections. Moscow had always emphasized that congratulations on the electoral victory could not be based on the media declaring Biden the winner.
In the so-called Electoral College, Biden now received 306 of the total 538 votes, and therefore significantly more than the required minimum of 270. Former President Trump, who has yet to acknowledge his defeat, only got 232 votes. On January 20, Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris are sworn in in Washington.
Russia fears new sanctions under Biden
In Russia there were high hopes that Trump would be re-elected. Traditionally, relations with the Republican presidents of the United States are considered better than with a Democrat. In Russia, under Biden, there are even more fears of sanctions and much sharper criticism of human rights violations.
Relationships are very tense, among other things due to various penalties. Above all, Moscow wants to push forward the prefabricated construction of the Nord Stream 2 Baltic Sea pipeline from Russia to Germany against the resistance of Washington. The nearly completed billion dollar project was halted a year ago due to US sanctions. A section will continue to be built this month. However, new US sanctions are on the horizon.
