Russia recalls envoy after Biden brands Putin a ‘killer’

Russia is recalling its ambassador in Washington to Moscow for consultations after what the Kremlin denounced as a “groundless” attack by US President Joe Biden on his Russian counterpart.

In an interview with ABC News, Biden described Vladimir Putin as a “killer” who would “pay a price” for so-called meddling in US elections. The comments sparked the first major diplomatic incident for the US president since he took office in January.

Biden was asked about a newly released US intelligence report that the Russian leader “had likely authorized influence operations” aimed at promoting then-US president Donald Trump and discrediting Biden’s candidacy in the November 2020 election.

“He will pay a price,” Biden said. The Russian embassy in Washington said in a statement: “Russian Ambassador to the United States Anatoly Antonov will fly to Moscow for consultations on March 20. He will hold meetings at the Russian Foreign Ministry and other government agencies to discuss ways of correcting the RussianUS ties, which are now in crisis.”

According to the statement, the current crisis in relations between Russia and the US stems from Washington’s policy and certain statements by US senior officials.

“Washington has been deliberately driving bilateral cooperation to a dead-end in recent years,” it said. “The US administration’s nonconstructive policy toward our country is in the interest of neither Russia nor the US. Reckless statements of US senior officials pose a threat of utter collapse to bilateral relations, which are already excessively confrontational.”

Vyacheslav Volodin, the speaker of Russia’s legislature, the State Duma, slammed Biden’s remarks.

“Biden has insulted all Russians with his remarks about Vladimir Putin. This is a tantrum that comes from powerlessness. Putin is our president. Attacking him is an attack on our country,” he said.

“Biden’s statement today is beyond common sense. This is no way for the leader of a country that claims to be a bearer of democratic principles and morality to behave.”

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov dismissed the US determination that Russia had targeted election infrastructure during the 2020 presidential election as “absolutely groundless and unsubstantiated” and an excuse for new sanctions.

The Russian Foreign Ministry said Moscow will analyze the results of Biden’s first 100 days in office.