Joe Biden calls Vladimir Putin 'killer', craves more tension

After US President Joe Biden's interview on ABC, in which he answered a few questions about Russia and Russian President Vladimir Putin, the ruble rate declined against the dollar and the euro.

Ruble falls after Biden's remarks

As of 15:45, the dollar climbed to 73.76 rubles, and the euro - to 87.8 rubles. The dollar reached 74 rubles at peak, and the euro - up to 88 rubles.

Joe Biden said that he had a long conversation with his Russian counterpart. He warned Putin that Russia would be punished for his crimes, if they are proved.

US President Joe Biden wanted to hold Russia accountable for the alleged interference in US elections.

"He will pay a price," Biden said in an interview that aired Wednesday on ABC's "Good Morning America". "We had a long talk, he and I, and relatively well. And the conversation started -- 'I know you and you know me. If I establish this occurred, be prepared.'" Biden said.

On March 16, US intelligence released a report accusing Russia and Iran of meddling in the 2020 presidential election. Washington accuses Moscow of trying to support the re-election of ex-President Donald Trump, discredit Biden and "sow discord" in the American society. Allegedly, Iran also attempted to show influence on the elections in the United States and tried to prevent Trump's victory. In this regard, the United States already announced sanctions against the two countries.

Biden: Putin is a killer

ABC's George Stephanopoulos also asked Biden whether he thinks the Russian president is a "killer." Biden replied positively.

"The price he's going to pay, you'll see shortly," he added without giving further detail.

He noted that there are still areas in which Moscow and Washington can find common ground despite the two powers' chilled relations.

"There are places where it's in our mutual interest to work together," he said. "That's why I renewed the [New] START agreement. That occurred while he's doing this."

Biden insults and attacks all of Russia

State Duma Chairman Vyacheslav Volodin responded to US President Joe Biden's remarks about Russian President Vladimir Putin.

"Biden insulted the citizens of our country with his statement. This is a hysteria due to impotence," said Volodin. The politician also stressed that attacks on the head of state are equal to attacks on the whole country.

Will Putin respond to Biden's attacks?

Political scientist Fyodor Lukyanov wonders how Russia is going to respond to Biden's attacks and when.

"Don't they just terminate diplomatic relations after this? Or do the uttered phrases have no significance at all? Are words related to actions here? Are we willing indeed to cooperate with the USA on the questions that the USA is ready to cooperate on?" he wonders.

According to political scientist Dmitry Drobnitsky, Joe Biden insulted Russian President Putin in the past.

"Of course, it's up to the Russian leader how to relate to this. Yet, one may say for sure that Biden's former boss Barack Obama, and certainly Donald Trump, avoided such rhetoric. Biden loosened his tongue too much here," Dmitry Drobnitsky told Pravda.Ru.

"I don't really understand what is changing now. It's not for me to advise the protocol service, but it's very strange how (Vladimir Putin) can meet with such a person," the political scientist said.

Vladimir Batyuk, the head of the Center for Political-Military Studies of the Institute of the USA and Canada, set out a hope that the remarks from the US president would not have any special consequences.

"This episode per se - both the question and the answer - gives a very clear illustration of the degree of Russophobia in the United States. It also proves that the US political class, including the US media, is completely unprepared for any normal constructive dialogue with our country," the expert told Pravda.Ru.

"This situation is not new at all. At the same time, it shows that even if someone had any illusions after Mr. Biden took office as president and extended the US-Russian treaty on the limitation of strategic and offensive arms, then even the remnants of those illusions are now gone," Vladimir Batyuk told Pravda.Ru.