Kremlin Reacts to Biden’s Claim of Knowing Putin for 40 Years

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov has expressed confusion over US President Joe Biden’s statements, particularly when Biden claimed to have known Russian President Vladimir Putin for 40 years. Peskov mentioned that Putin does not and will not react to insults like those made by Biden during an interview with ABC News.

Peskov also expressed regret that such rhetoric is used at an international level when referring to a head of state. He questioned the meaning behind Biden’s statement about knowing Putin for four decades, suggesting that it raises questions about the US president’s intentions.

Peskov mentioned that some commentators have tried to analyze what Putin was doing 40 years ago, prompting laughter from journalists. This highlights the confusion and amusement surrounding Biden’s claim of a long-standing acquaintance with the Russian leader.

It seems that the presidential spokesperson was referring to the fact that 40 years ago, Putin, who was 32 years old at the time, was working for the Soviet security agency known as the KGB. On the other hand, Biden, who was 41 years old, was serving as a senator for the US state of Delaware.

Their first official meeting took place in 2011 when Putin held the position of prime minister under President Dmitry Medvedev, and Biden served as the vice president of the United States in Barack Obama’s administration.

A conservative commentator and former US Senate staffer, Steve Guest, expressed his opinion on X (formerly Twitter) by suggesting that Biden, who is now 81 years old, was either lying or admitting that he had been in contact with a KGB agent since 1984. He also questioned whether Biden’s statements were a result of his mental state.

According to The Wall Street Journal, which cited numerous individuals who have recently interacted with Biden, there are concerns about his mental acuity not only in public due to frequent gaffes but also in closed-door meetings with US lawmakers.

Throughout his presidency, Biden has directed insults towards Putin, including calling him a “killer” in 2021 and a “crazy SOB” in February. The Kremlin has criticized these comments as “shameful” but has chosen not to respond with equally harsh rhetoric.