The Kremlin responded on Thursday to Joe Biden’s characterization of Russian President Vladimir Putin as a “crazy SOB,” criticizing the choice of language as derogatory and unbecoming of the United States. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov dismissed Biden’s remark as an attempt to portray himself as a “Hollywood cowboy,” asserting that such rhetoric does not affect President Putin but reflects poorly on those who use it.
Peskov emphasized that President Putin has never resorted to crude language when addressing counterparts, contrasting this with Biden’s comment. He described Biden’s words as a disgrace to the United States itself.
“The use of such language against the head of another state by the president of the United States is unlikely to infringe on our president, President Putin,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said. “But it debases those who use such vocabulary.”
Peskov said the statement was “probably some kind of attempt to look like a Hollywood cowboy. But honestly I don’t think it’s possible.”
“Has Mr Putin ever used one crude word to address you? This has never happened. Therefore, I think that such vocabulary debases America itself
“This is a disgrace for the country itself, I mean the United States,” Peskov said.
Tensions between Russia and the West have escalated significantly due to the conflict in Ukraine, the death of opposition leader Alexei Navalny, and allegations of Russian plans to deploy nuclear weapons in space.
Some diplomats from both sides view current relations as the worst since the Cuban Missile Crisis of 1962.
Biden’s previous remarks, including calling Putin a “killer” and stating that Putin “cannot remain in power,” have strained relations further. The Kremlin has criticized the West’s reaction to Navalny’s death as premature and unjustified.
Despite the White House downplaying Biden’s comments, they have been perceived as evidence by hardliners in Russia of U.S. intentions to undermine Putin’s leadership.
