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Putin Challenges Biden to Hold Public Talks Amid Escalating Tensions Over 'Killer' Accusation

By Vusala Abbasova March 21, 2021

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Putin’s invitation came during contentious week for Russian-US relations, when Biden directed harsh criticism at Putin during a televised interview with ABC News’ George Stephanopoulos.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has expressed his interest in holding talks with US President Joe Biden after reacting to Biden's description of him as "a killer".

In an interview with Russia 24 news channel on Thursday, President Putin voiced his readiness to speak directly to his American counterpart "either tomorrow or on Monday".

"I want to propose to President Biden to continue our discussion, but on the condition that we do it basically live, as it’s called," TASS quoted Putin as saying, recalling that the latest phone conversation between the two leaders after Biden’s inauguration was initiated by the US. "Without any delays and directly in an open, direct discussion. It seems to me that would be interesting for the people of Russia and for the people of the United States."

Putin’s invitation came during contentious week for Russian-US relations, when Biden directed harsh criticism at Putin during a televised interview with ABC News’ George Stephanopoulos. Following the interview, expanded US sanctions on Russia were announced, while Moscow recalled its ambassador to Washington. Warning of the risks of "an irreversible deterioration in relations" with the new US administration, the Russian Foreign Ministry expressed Russia's hopes to reverse the downward spiral.

President Putin added that he was "ready at any time convenient for the American side" and that he would immediately give the relevant instructions to the Foreign Ministry. He said he believes that the world's two largest nuclear states have a lot to discuss, including bilateral relations, strategic stability, resolving regional conflicts and combating the pandemic.

The White House has not accepted the offer to hold live talks between the Russian and US leaders yet. In a press briefing on Thursday, White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki suggested that the discussion with Putin was unlikely to happen on Friday as President Biden would be on a working trip to the US state of Georgia on that day.

Before issuing the discussion challenge, the Russian president responded to a comment by his US counterpart when he described Putin as a "killer", arguing that judging other countries is often "like looking in a mirror".

"I remember in my childhood, when we argued in the courtyard with each other we used to say: 'Whatever you say [about others] is what you are yourself,'" RBK quoted Putin as saying. "We always see our own traits in other people and think they are like how we really are. And as a result we assess [a person's] activities and give assessments."

The accusations highlighted the growing tensions between Russia and the United States that appear likely only to worsen in the coming weeks as the Biden administration is expected to impose sanctions on Russia as soon as next week over the alleged meddling in the election in favor of former Republican President Donald Trump, who was defeated by Biden in last November's presidential election in the US.