Russian dictator Vladimir Putin said on Sunday he is still not ready to recognize the election victory of president-elect Joe Biden but he’s ready to work with any U.S. leader.
Biden, who won the U.S. election two weeks ago, defeated president Donald Trump, by more than 6 million popular votes. He also secured 306 electoral votes to win the electoral college system.
“We will work with anyone who has the confidence of the American people,” Putin said on Russian state TV on Sunday.
“But that confidence can only be given to a candidate whose victory has been recognized by the opposing party, or after the results are confirmed in a legitimate, legal way.”
Putin, an ally of president Trump, is only among few world leaders who have not congratulated Biden’s victory.
His administration was accused by U.S. intelligence agencies of intervening in the 2016 election to get Trump elected.
Simon Ateba is Chief White House Correspondent for Today News Africa. Simon covers President Joe Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris, the U.S. government, the United Nations, the International Monetary Fund, the World Bank and other financial and international institutions in Washington D.C. and New York City.
