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“She knows Vladimir Putin. I think it’s a assassin? ”. “Yes I think so”. Three words to unleash one diplomatic crisis between the two main military powers of the world, U.S me Russia. Because it was the American president who delivered them, Joe biden, answering the direct question of George Stephanopoulos of ABC. The new tenant of the White House he did not beat around the bush to define the leader of the Kremlin, adding that “You will pay a price” for trying to influence him 2020 presidential election. However, Moscow’s reaction was swift: Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov immediately defined the accusations as “unfounded” and intended “to be used as an excuse to introduce the question of new sanctions against our country ”, while the Federation recalled its own ambassador to the United States for consultations.
His comments follow the launch of the US intelligence report according to which Putin authorized operations to denigrate Biden in the last presidential elections and thus favor his rival Donald trump, undermining confidence in the electoral process and exacerbating socio-political divisions in the U.S. Biden recalled that in his phone call in late January He had warned Putin about a possible American response to the interference in the vote. “We had a long conversation, him and me. I know him relatively well – he said – I know you and you know me. If I decide it has happened, get ready, ”he continued.
Biden, who did not specify what price Moscow will pay, also recalled previously telling Putin that don’t think it has a soul. “He turned to me and said ‘we understand each other’,” he added. Despite his judgment, the US president believes that it is possible to “walk and chew gum”, that is, to do two things: take the necessary measures because of what happened on the one hand and work with Russia on issues that affect the United States, such as arms deals.
Shortly after, the Kremlin spokesman also took the floor, Dmitry Peskov, defining Biden’s accusations “without foundation, of evidence and they are wrong “:” We do not agree with the conclusions of the United States national intelligence about our country. Russia did not interfere in the previous elections and did not interfere in the 2020 elections referred to in the report. Russia is not participating in the campaign against any of the candidates, “he added. And he counterattacks: “In general, we can once again express regret for these accusations, which are far from being substantive and serve as an excuse to introduce the question of new sanctions against our country. They damage the already suffered bilateral relations and discourage political efforts to get out of this impasse ”.
Even the spokesman for the Chancellery, Maria Zakharova, intervenes on the episode, trying to use a less peremptory tone: “The new US administration has been in power for almost two months, the symbolic milestone of 100 days is not far off and this is an appropriate occasion to try to evaluate in what The team is doing well and what is not. The main thing is to understand if you can find ways to improve Russian-American relations that are in a difficult condition and that Washington has substantially pushed In a dead end in recent years. We are interested in preventing its irreversible degradationif Americans understand the risks that this entails. “
The reaction of the president of the Duma, the Russian parliament, Viaceslav Volodin, who criticized the US president stating that “The attacks” against Putin “are attacks against our country”. Volodin, in his statements on TelegramHe added that “Biden with his statement has offended the citizens of our country, it is a ‘hysteria caused by impotence. Putin is our president and the attacks against him are attacks against our country ”.
Afghanistan, troop withdrawal unlikely for May
In the long interview, another hot topic of international politics was also discussed: the withdrawal of troops from Afghanistan. Joe Biden criticized the Trump administration’s negotiated agreement with the Taliban and considers it “difficult” for the Stars and Stripes to leave the country before May 1, as provided by the agreement if the Taliban respect certain conditions. “I am making the decision now about when they will leave – he said – The fact is that it is not a negotiated agreement in the usual way that the former president has promoted. And so we are in consultation with our allies, as well as with the government, and this decision is being evaluated ”.
A few hours later, the response of the Taliban arrives, according to which the “Americans must withdraw their troops before May 1 as foreseen by theDoha Agreement, if they do not do it for any reason or pretext they will be responsible for the consequences“Said the spokesman in a statement Zabihullah Mujahid.
Saudi Arabia, “relations will change after the assassination of Jamal Khashoggi”
Stephanopoulos also asked Biden why he did not punish the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia. Mohammad bin Salman, after the US secret services published a report accusing him of having approved an operation to capture or kill the dissident journalist Jamal khashoggi. The president said: “I am the person who released the report,” adding that he “clarified” a re Salman Dell ‘Saudi Arabia “That things would change.” “We held everyone in that organization responsible, but not the crown prince because never when we have an alliance with a country, as far as I know, did we go to the head of state and punish him,” Biden explained. He then added that “the list of things we expected the Saudis to do has been done,” including “ending the war in yemen“.
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