MOSCOW: The Kremlin expressed dismay on Thursday over US President Joe Biden’s derogatory remarks about Russian President Vladimir Putin, calling it a “huge shame” for the United States.
Biden’s comment, made during a speech in San Francisco where he referred to Putin as a “crazy SOB,” drew criticism from Putin’s spokesman Dmitry Peskov, who characterized it as “shameful” and indicative of “Hollywood cowboy style behavior.”
This is not the first instance of Biden’s candid remarks, as he has previously made similar offhand comments and has been openly critical of Putin, even asserting in 2022 that the Russian leader “cannot remain in power.”
The latest verbal jab comes amidst already strained relations between the US and Russia, exacerbated by issues such as the conflict in Ukraine and the controversial death of Russian opposition figure Alexei Navalny in custody. Biden has pledged to impose harsh sanctions on Moscow in response to Navalny’s death, which the White House has squarely blamed on the Kremlin.
