JRL NEWSWATCH: “Putin Says He Prefers Biden Over Trump. Commentators Are Skeptical.” – New York Times
![File Photo of Joe Biden at Podium in Front of U.S. and State Department Flags, adapted from image at usembassy.gov](https://russialist.org/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/biden-embassy-e1616195108447-300x200.png)
“The Russian president, Vladimir V. Putin, called President Biden experienced and predictable. But Moscow watchers said the comments most likely had an ulterior motive.”
“… Putin said … Wednesday … it was in Russia’s interest for … Biden to win a second term … dismissing concerns about [] Biden’s age. It was the first time that [] Putin … directly expressed a preference ahead of the U.S. presidential election in November,
and the comments ran counter to the widespread assumption that the Kremlin was rooting for … Trump …. [I]n a brief interview with Russian state television released late Wednesday [an interviewer asked] ‘Who is better for us: Biden or Trump?’ …. ‘Biden,’ [] Putin responded. ‘He is a more experienced person, he is predictable, he is a politician of the old school.’ [] Putin added, with a smile, ‘But we will work with any U.S. leader whom the American people have confidence in.’ …”