Moscow [Russia], September 6: Russian President Vladimir Putin claims he supports Kamala Harris over Donald Trump in the US presidential election, even though Trump has lavished praise on the Kremlin leader and criticized US military aid to Ukraine.
Speaking at the Eastern Economic Forum in Vladivostok, Putin said Russia "will back" Vice President Harris in her bid for the White House, but said it was up to the American people to decide the winner on November 5.
Putin joked that he liked her "infectious" laugh, which showed "she's doing well."
The Russian leader said that he had always supported President Joe Biden's attempt at a second term, because he is more predictable and consistent than Trump. "He has withdrawn from the race but asked his
supporters to back Ms Harris. This is what we are doing; we will back her," he said, the Russian state news agency TASS reported.
Washington is unlikely to take Putin's comments seriously.
They came hours after the US government sanctioned several Russian individuals and entities over "malign influence efforts" targeting the 2024 election.
A declassified intelligence report released in 2021 assessed that Putin ordered efforts to hurt Biden's candidacy and help Trump's in the 2020 election.
In the 2016 election, the US security authorities were also convinced that Russia had intervened in favour of Trump when he went up against Hillary Clinton.
Trump has made statements raising doubts as to whether the United States will continue to support Ukraine's military against invading Russian forces should he win a second term.
And at a February campaign rally he said he would "encourage" Russia "to do whatever the hell they want" to NATO countries that are not spending enough on defence.
Source: Qatar Tribune