Russian President Vladimir Putin was joking when he mentioned Moscow’s support for Democratic candidate Kamala Harris in the upcoming US presidential election, according to Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov. In an interview with Sky News Arabia, Lavrov clarified that Putin’s earlier comment, where he cited Harris’s “infectious” laugh as a reason to prefer her over Republican candidate and former president Donald Trump, was made in jest.
Putin’s remarks, made earlier this month, prompted a response from the White House, urging the Russian leader to refrain from commenting on the November 5 election. Lavrov emphasized Putin’s sense of humor, stating, “It was a joke. President Putin has a good sense of humour. He often jokes during his statements and interviews.” Lavrov further elaborated that there would be no significant long-term differences in Russia’s foreign policy regardless of the outcome of the US election, attributing this to the influence of the so-called “deep state” in American politics, although he did not provide evidence for this claim. Lavrov’s comments were published on the Russian foreign ministry’s website on Friday.
The context of Putin’s remarks and Lavrov’s clarification comes amid the ongoing conflict between Ukraine and Russia. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy expressed his hopes of meeting Republican presidential candidate Trump during his visit to the US next week, where he plans to present Ukraine’s “victory plan” in its war against Russia. Zelenskiy is scheduled to attend sessions of the UN Security Council and General Assembly and has meetings planned with US President Joe Biden and Vice President Harris on September 26.
Zelenskiy, addressing the media late on Friday, indicated a potential meeting with Trump, stating, “We will most likely have a meeting, I think, on September 26-27,” without providing further details. This planned interaction underscores the high stakes of the international political landscape and the significant role that US-Russian relations play within it.
Putin’s playful remark about Harris highlights the complex dynamics and often unpredictable nature of political rhetoric, particularly between major global powers. As the US election approaches, the statements and actions of international leaders will continue to be closely scrutinized, with the potential to influence perceptions and diplomatic relations. Lavrov’s clarification aims to mitigate any misunderstanding and refocus attention on the substantive issues at hand in global politics.
