The spokesman for Vladimir Putin says the Russian president is open to talks with Joe Biden after the U.S. broke down on protesters.
Russia has accused the United States of interfering in its domestic affairs after a crackdown on protesters backing a leader against Alexey Navalny, but arguments for Vladimir Putin said a head Russian president open to speak with US President Joe Biden.
On Saturday, the U.S. strongly condemned “the use of harsh tactics against protesters and journalists this weekend in cities across Russia” and called on those arrested release.
Tens of thousands of people took to the streets in support of Navalny, who was arrested on his return to Moscow last weekend after months of treatment in Germany for near-poisoning poisoning. deadly.
More than 3,500 demonstrators were detained in protests across the country, with several injured in clashes with police in Moscow.
Russia’s foreign ministry swiftly responded to US criticism.
Putin lobbied Dmitry Peskov to raise a special issue with a “demonstration warning” of a U.S. embassy that warned U.S. citizens in Russia of a possible riot, telling the state TV channel Sunday that Washington including “true” in Russian domestic affairs.
“Of course, these publications are irrelevant,” Peskov said.
“And of course, indirectly, they completely embrace our internal affairs.”
However, Peskov also hit a more conciliatory tone and said Russia is ready to hold talks with the Biden administration, which has promised to rebuild a coalition of European alliances against the Kremlin.
“This is the conversation where, of course, differences need to be said to a greater degree … but at the same time, conversation is able to find some reasonable kernels, the small parts where our relationships coming closer, “he said.
“And if the current U.S. administration is ready for such an approach, I have no doubt that our president will respond in a right.”
Differences
Moscow and Washington remain deeply divided on a number of issues.
The US has once again criticized Russia’s support for Ukrainian separatists, as well as its support for the regime of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and its intervention in the Libyan civil war. .
U.S. intelligence officials are also accusing Russian representatives of trying to interfere in the country’s 2016 primary election by slamming, manipulating social media, and leaking undisclosed information. his accomplishment means harming the then-Hillary Clinton candidate.
Biden, who reportedly told Putin “I don’t think you have a soul” and called Russia the “biggest threat” to U.S. security, has vowed to take a tougher line against Former US President Donald Trump “autocrats like Putin”.
On the trail of the campaign, Biden also criticized Navalny’s poisoning, saying it was evidence that Russia is “so paranoid that it is unwilling to accept any criticism or disagreement”.
The Kremlin remained silent after Biden’s victory was chosen, with Putin as one of the last world leaders to congratulate him.
At the same time, both countries have major issues to resolve, including the New START arms control treaty, which is due to expire on 5 February.
The White House said last week that Biden would seek a five-year extension to the contract, which calls for a reduction in the number of nuclear missile surgeries.
The Kremlin has said it “welcomes” the proposal, but said “everything will depend” on the details.