Russia views US Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris as a more predictable opponent compared to Republican Donald Trump. Despite this, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov made it clear that there is no expectation for an improvement in relations with Washington, regardless of the outcome. In an interview with Pavel Zarubin, a TV reporter with close Kremlin ties, Peskov also dismissed Trump’s claim that he could end the Ukraine conflict within 24 hours if re-elected.
Before Joe Biden withdrew from the November election and endorsed Harris, Russian President Vladimir Putin had indicated a preference for Biden over Trump. Putin had described Biden as an experienced, “old school” politician.
In a lighthearted exchange with Zarubin, who joked about the current candidate situation, Peskov responded with a laugh, saying, “We have no candidate. However, the Democrats are generally more predictable. Putin’s view on Biden’s predictability extends to most Democrats, including Ms. Harris.”
While Putin and Peskov have variously commented on the US elections, they have maintained that the election is an internal matter. In February, Putin praised Biden’s predictability but also questioned his mental fitness, which some interpreted as an attempt to stir controversy. By June, Putin had shifted his stance, stating that Russia had no preference for the next US President but critiqued the US judicial system’s role in the political conflict with Trump.
Peskov, in a recent interview, asserted that the US actions undermining Russian interests had surpassed acceptable limits, resulting in bilateral relations reaching a historic low with no current prospects for recovery. He also labeled Trump’s promise to resolve the Ukraine crisis swiftly as unrealistic, describing the notion that a new US president could halt military aid and immediately shift Kyiv’s stance as pure fantasy.
