Kremlin advises against mentioning Putin in U.S. election debates

The topic of who Vladimir Putin would prefer as a US president was discussed during the recent debate between Kamala Harris and Donald Trump. Harris criticized Trump, saying Putin would sit in Kyiv with his eyes on Europe if he was in charge. Trump claimed that Putin endorsed Harris, but Russia denied this claim and expressed displeasure with the discussion. The debate also touched on ending Russia’s war with Ukraine, with Harris emphasizing Ukraine’s defense and Trump claiming he knew the best way to reach a peace deal. The Russian response to the debate was negative, with Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov expressing unhappiness with the portrayal of Russia. Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova compared the debate to boxers fighting on the Titanic, suggesting the outcome is irrelevant. While Putin appeared to joke about favoring Harris, it can be difficult to determine his true intentions. Some German officials also broke protocol by responding to Trump’s comments on their energy policy. Ukraine, on the other hand, has been seeking permission to use Western long-range missiles against Russia, with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken suggesting that this may soon be allowed. Overall, the debate highlighted the differing positions of the candidates on foreign policy and relationships with Russia.

Photo credit
www.usatoday.com