Russia’s President Vladimir Putin finally congratulated Democrat Joe Biden today on his victory in last November’s US presidential election and expressed a desire that, despite differences, both countries can cooperate to solve many problems facing the world.
The Russian representative, one of the last to congratulate Biden, wanted to wait for the Electoral College to confirm the Democrat as president-elect on Monday.
“For my part I am ready for interaction and contacts with you,” Putin said in his congratulatory telegram published by the Kremlin, which on more than one occasion has referred to the poor state of relations in recent years between the two countries.
“Damaged relationships cannot be damaged. They are already damaged,” the Russian representative himself said last November on the TELEVISION show “Moscow. Kremlin. Putin.”
In his telegram, Putin wishes Biden great success and expresses confidence that “Russia and the US, which have a special responsibility for global security and stability, can, despite their differences, really contribute to solving many problems and challenges facing the world today.”
The Russian president noted that with this in mind, Russian-American cooperation based on the principles of equality and mutual respect would “respond to the interests of the peoples of both countries and the entire international community,” according to the Kremlin.
Putin has expressed hope that Biden’s stance on gun control will be an important element for “possible interaction in the future.”
On 5 February, the only nuclear arms reduction agreement in force between the two powers, START III or New START, expires, without the two countries being able to agree on an extension of it or negotiate new terms.
Last October, Putin proposed extending the treaty one year without conditions, but not to mention the possibility of a mutual freeze on the nuclear arsenal as required by the US, although the Foreign Ministry later clarified that Moscow is prepared to take this step for twelve months if the nuclear arms reduction pact is extended for the same period.
Although russian interference allegations in the US have been ongoing over the past four years, Putin and outgoing US President Donald Trump maintained a good personal harmony, unlike between Russian leader and Barack Obama (2008-2016).
Russian experts believe biden’s coming to power will not improve relations between Moscow and Washington, which have been at their worst since the Cold War.
