(Reuters) – President Vladimir Putin stated in an interview published on Wednesday that Russia does not meddle in any elections and is willing to collaborate with any leader chosen by the American people. Putin emphasized, “We do not interfere in any way in any elections,” in an interview with Russian state media, reiterating his stance that Russia respects the choice made by the American electorate.
The escalating conflict in Ukraine and allegations from the U.S. about Russia’s purported intentions to deploy a nuclear weapon in space have triggered the most severe crisis in Russia’s relationship with the West since the Cold War era.
In an interview with RIA state news agency and Rossiya-1 state television, Putin emphasized that Russia would be prepared to utilize nuclear weapons if its territorial integrity is perceived as being under threat.
The Russian President initiated a full-scale invasion of Ukraine and is widely expected to secure victory in the presidential election scheduled from March 15 to 17.
Putin revealed that during his tenure as president, Donald Trump reprimanded him for appearing to be favoring Joe Biden, the current U.S. President. Putin disclosed, “In the final year of his presidency, Mr. Trump, who is now a presidential candidate, criticized me for showing sympathy towards Biden. He asked me in one of our conversations: do you want Sleepy Joe to win?”
“Subsequently, much to my surprise, they began persecuting him (Trump) on the basis of the false claim that we were backing him as a candidate. It’s utter nonsense,” Putin remarked.
In an earlier statement made in February, Putin expressed a preference for Biden over Trump as U.S. President, citing Biden’s greater experience and predictability.
(Reporting by Lidia Kelly in Melbourne; Editing by Kim Coghill and Lincoln Feast.)
