Putin backs ‘predictable’ Biden to win US election

VLADIMIR PUTIN said he would like to see Joe Biden re-elected for a second term, in the Russian president’s first comments on November’s US elections.

Speaking to Russian state TV, Putin said the current White House occupant was more “experienced” and “predictable” than his predecessor Donald Trump.

Asked who Russia would like to see win in the likely contest between the pair, Putin replied: “Biden, he’s more experienced. He’s predictable, he’s an old school politician.”

The Russian leader went on to dismiss concerns over the 81-year-old Mr Biden’s age and mental acuity.

“When I met Mr Biden three years ago, it’s true, people were already talking about his inabilities, but I saw nothing of the sort,” said Putin.

But there was a slight sting in the tail as he added: “So he banged his head on the helicopter when he was getting out of it – who of us hasn’t banged their head on something?”

The White House is unlikely to welcome Putin’s i ntervention, which comes hot on the heels of Mr Biden’s claim that Mr Trump had “bowed down to a Russian dictator” as he appeals to Republicans in Congress to approve more funding for Ukraine.

The US president lambasted Mr Trump over his suggestion that under his leadership, Moscow could do “whatever the hell they want” to Nato members who fail to meet defence spending commitments.

The Republican frontrunner has presided over a policy shift within the GOP, with Russia hawks within its ranks increasingly confronted with a more isolationist strain of thinking.

Those differences have come to a head with Mr Biden’s request for a further $61 billion in US defence aid for Ukraine to defend itself in its grinding war with Moscow.

American conservative scepticism of arming Ukraine was given a larger platform last week when Tucker Carlson, the influential conservative commentator, interviewed Putin.

But Putin levelled his own attack against Carlson on Wednesday night, saying he was surprised by his lack of sharp questions.

“Frankly, I did not get full satisfaction from this interview,” Putin told Russian state media.