Russia’s President Vladimir Putin had some fun at Joe Biden’s expense on Thursday, saying his “crazy SOB” comments showed why he had Moscow’s support in this year’s presidential election.
He delivered his verdict on the day he mocked the West with a joyride in a modernized supersonic strategic nuclear bomber Tu-160M.
On Wednesday, Biden described the Russian leader as a “crazy SOB” at a reception with supporters in California, where he said climate change is a greater threat to humanity than even nuclear war.
Putin responded with a mocking smile as he told state television: “We are ready to work with any president.”
“But I believe that for us, Biden is a more preferable president for Russia, and based on what he just said, I’m absolutely right.”
Vladimir Putin taunted the West by taking a joyride in a modernized supersonic strategic nuclear bomber Tu-160M today – as the Kremlin threatened nuclear war
A day earlier, President Joe Biden called Putin a “crazy SOB” as his administration plans new sanctions. Putin seemed to enjoy the comments and used them to gently mock the US
The exchange comes as the Biden administration plans more sanctions following the death in a Siberian penal colony of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny.
At the same time, Moscow is stepping up the threat of a nuclear attack amid reports that it plans to deploy a nuclear weapon in space.
Republicans have followed Donald Trump’s lead and been muted in their criticism of Putin, while the Russian leader has said he would prefer Biden to stay in power because he is “more predictable.”
Biden’s comments initially angered Moscow and the Kremlin said Biden had humiliated the United States.
Putin was more playful.
“It’s not like he can say to me: ‘Volodya, thank you, well done, you helped me a lot,’” Putin said.
‘You asked me what is better for us. That’s what I said then, and I still think I can repeat it: Biden.’
It was all part of a day designed to inflame his opponents in the West and divert attention from the condemnation for his role in Navalny’s death.
The strategic bomber Tupolev Tu-160M Ilya Muromets is seen on the snow-covered tarmac in Kazan
Vladimir Putin speaks after flying a modernized nuclear-capable Tu-160M strategic bomber in Kazan, Russia
He spent 40 minutes flying in the fighter jet and signaled he had no intention of withdrawing from the war in Ukraine, which he invaded nearly two years ago.
But by flying a type of fighter jet that has been used to wreak havoc in Ukraine with conventional weapons, he sent the message that he intended to keep fighting in Ukraine, which he invaded nearly two years ago.
And the massive Tu-160M – also called White Swan – is a key part of its nuclear strike force at a time when the Kremlin is bluntly warning the West of the risk of nuclear war.
Putin was spotted in Kazan, a day after visiting a factory in the city that produces the Tupolev bombers.
He climbed a ladder at the factory to enter the plane and spent ten minutes in the cockpit.
He then made the decision to fly one of his bombers himself – his first flight since taking to the skies in a Tu-160 in 2005.
The giant swing-wing aircraft is a substantially modernized version of a Soviet-era bomber that the USSR would have deployed in the event of a nuclear war with the West to deliver nuclear weapons at long ranges.
The TU-160M can carry twelve cruise missiles or twelve short-range nuclear missiles and can fly 12,000 kilometers non-stop without refueling.
Biden is on the third day of a three-day fundraising trip to California. He gave a speech on debt cancellation in Culver City before flying to San Francisco on Wednesday
Biden made an unannounced stop at CJ’s Cafe in Baldwin Hills on Wednesday before continuing to Culver City for his speech at the library
He arrived in San Francisco on Wednesday afternoon, where he was greeted by former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. They traveled to a campaign reception together on Marine One
The election stunt came less than a week after a man who wanted to oust him as president – Navalny – was “murdered” in his bleak prison in the Arctic.
Even though the March elections are expected to favor Putin, he is currently more visible on state television than he has been in years.
A breathless report on Putin-controlled Russian state television said: “We have just seen the president (Vladimir Putin) climb into the cockpit of a strategic Tu-160 bomber again, for the second time in two days.”
On the tarmac, his spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Putin had “made the decision to fly.” There is now a flight (with Putin).”
Putin later retired the Tu-160M, calling the improved aircraft – the model he had flown – suitable for the Russian air force.
‘The technology is excellent. It can be accepted by the armed forces,” he said.