{"id":117423,"date":"2021-03-18T10:52:50","date_gmt":"2021-03-18T10:52:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/precoinnews.com\/?p=117423"},"modified":"2021-03-18T10:52:50","modified_gmt":"2021-03-18T10:52:50","slug":"russia-wants-an-apology-from-u-s-after-biden-called-putin-a-killer-says-kremlin-ally","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/precoinnews.com\/world-news\/russia-wants-an-apology-from-u-s-after-biden-called-putin-a-killer-says-kremlin-ally\/","title":{"rendered":"Russia wants an apology from U.S. after Biden called Putin a killer, says Kremlin ally"},"content":{"rendered":"
MOSCOW (Reuters) – Russia wants an apology from the United States after President Joe Biden said he thought Vladimir Putin was a killer and may retaliate against Washington unless it gets one, a senior Russian lawmaker said on Thursday.<\/p>\n
In an ABC News interview broadcast a day earlier, Biden said "I do" when asked if he believed the Russian president was a killer.<\/p>\n
He also described Putin as having no soul, and promised he would pay a price for alleged Russian meddling in the 2020 U.S. presidential election, something the Kremlin denies.<\/p>\n
In a highly unusual move following Biden's interview, Russia on Wednesday said it was recalling its ambassador to the United States for urgent consultations over the future of U.S.-Russia ties.<\/p>\n
Konstantin Kosachyov, deputy chairman of parliament's upper house, said Biden's comments were unacceptable, would inevitably inflame already bad ties, and ended any hope in Moscow of a change of U.S. policy under a new U.S. administration.<\/p>\n
He said Moscow's recall of its ambassador was the only reasonable step to take in the circumstances.<\/p>\n
A watershed moment in U.S.-Russia ties<\/strong><\/p>\n "I suspect it will not be the last one if no explanation or apology follows from the American side," Kosachyov said in a Facebook post.<\/p>\n "This kind of assessment is not allowed from the mouth of a statesman of such a rank. This kind of statement is not acceptable under any circumstances," he added, calling it a watershed moment in U.S.-Russia ties.<\/p>\n The Kremlin has not yet responded publicly to Biden's comments, but is likely to do so later on Thursday.<\/p>\n Artur Chilingarov, a pro-Kremlin lawmaker in the lower house of parliament, called for a "tough reaction" from Moscow in comments made to Russia's Ekho Moskvy radio station.<\/p>\n Russia's ties with the West, already languishing at post-Cold War lows since 2014, have come under new pressure over Russia's jailing of Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny whose freedom the West has demanded.<\/p>\n Russia has dismissed that as unacceptable interference in its domestic affairs.<\/p>\n The United States has said it is preparing new sanctions against Russia over an alleged hack and the alleged election meddling.<\/p>\n Biden told ABC "You'll see shortly" when asked what consequences Russia would face for its alleged behaviour.<\/p>\n