MOSCOW - President Vladimir Putin said that Russia would prefer to see U.S. President Joe Biden win a second term, describing him as more experienced and predictable than Donald Trump 鈥 even though Moscow strongly disagrees with the current administration's policies.
Putin's comments during an interview with Russian state television Wednesday were his first about the upcoming U.S. presidential election, likely to pit Biden against Trump. They were rare praise for Biden, a fierce critic of the Russian leader who has frequently lauded Trump.
鈥淏iden, he鈥檚 more experienced, more predictable, he鈥檚 a politician of the old formation,鈥 Putin said, when asked which candidate would be better for Russia. 鈥淏ut we will work with any U.S. leader whom the American people trust.鈥
Putin鈥檚 motives for saying Biden is a better choice for Russia were unclear, but the assertion was eyebrow-raising given prior U.S. government assessments of the Russian leader鈥檚 support for Trump and of Kremlin efforts to tip American elections in his favor.
The apparent endorsement was not welcomed by the White House. Asked during a briefing on Thursday about Putin鈥檚 remarks, national security spokesman John Kirby responded, 鈥淚 think Mr. Putin knows very well what this administration has been doing to counter Russia鈥檚 malign influence around the world.鈥
"Mr. Putin should just stay out of our elections,鈥 Kriby added.
Trump, by contrast, immediately at a campaign rally Wednesday night, calling it a 鈥済reat compliment鈥 to him.
U.S. intelligence agencies concluded that Putin the 2016 race in favor of Trump over Democratic challenger Hillary Clinton, with Russian operatives hacking Democratic emails and facilitating their release in the run-up to the election. More recently, intelligence agencies concluded that Putin had authorized influence operations in the 2020 election aimed at denigrating Biden, boosting Trump, undermining confidence in the vote and exacerbating social divisions in the U.S.
Trump and Putin, who have frequently praised each other in the past, have dismissed such findings.
Putin did also blast the White House's policy toward Russia, describing it as 鈥渂adly flawed and wrong.鈥
The remarks come at time of heightened tension between Russia and the West 鈥 and deep disagreements in the U.S. about how best to counter Russia and help Ukraine.
Putin has claimed that he sent troops into Ukraine to protect Russian speakers there and to prevent a threat to Russia鈥檚 security posed by Ukraine鈥檚 bid to join the NATO alliance. Ukraine and its Western allies have denounced Moscow鈥檚 action as an unprovoked act of aggression. Several NATO countries, chief among them the U.S. under Biden's leadership, have sent Kyiv weapons and other military aid to fend off Russian forces.
Trump, meanwhile, recently called into question U.S. funding for Ukraine and said he once warned he would to NATO member nations that are 鈥渄elinquent鈥 in investing in their own defense. Those comments sent shock waves through Europe, where for a time when the U.S. does not play the pivotal role in NATO that it does now.
Trump鈥檚 statement sharply contrasted with Biden鈥檚 pledge 鈥渢o defend every inch of NATO territory.鈥 Biden accused Trump on Tuesday of having 鈥渂owed down to a Russian dictator.鈥
In the interview, Putin noted that Trumps' view of relations with NATO's allies is consistent with his approach during his presidency, even though the Europeans sharply disagree.
The Russian leader described NATO as a 鈥淯.S. foreign policy tool,鈥 adding that 鈥渋f the U.S. thinks that it no longer needs this tool it鈥檚 up to it to decide.鈥
Asked about speculation on Biden's health issues, Putin responded that 鈥淚'm not a doctor and I don't consider it proper to comment on that.鈥 He added that Biden seemed in fine shape when the two leaders met in Switzerland in June 2021.
Biden鈥檚 team has worked to over alarms raised by a special counsel about Biden鈥檚 age and memory. They came in a report determining that Biden would not be charged with any criminal activity for possessing
Asked about his impressions from his last week's interview with former Fox News , Putin said he expected Carlson to be more aggressive. Putin used the interview to push his narrative on , urge Washington to recognize Moscow鈥檚 interests and press Kyiv to sit down for talks.
Carlson didn鈥檛 ask Putin about war crimes Russian troops have been accused of in Ukraine, or about his relentless crackdown on dissent.
鈥淚 expected him to be aggressive and ask the so-called tough questions, and I wasn't only ready for it but wanted it because it would have given me a chance to respond sharply,鈥 Putin said.
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Associated Press writer Darlene Superville contributed from Washington.
