It’s not 1962 and Khrushchev, but it’s 180 degrees removed from the sycophancy of the last administration, that much is certain. After the bombshell New York Times article detailing the intelligence reports proving up details of foreign interference in the 2020 election, which Robert Mueller had referenced, Joe Biden put his foot down. Reuters:
“He will pay a price,” Biden told ABC News in an interview broadcast on Wednesday. Asked what the consequences would be, he said, “You’ll see shortly.”
A U.S. intelligence report on Tuesday bolstered longstanding allegations that Putin was behind Moscow’s election interference, an accusation Russia called baseless.
At the same time, Biden noted that “there’s places where it’s in our mutual interest to work together” such as renewing the START nuclear agreement, adding that the two leaders have a known history.
“I know him relatively well,” Biden said, adding that “the most important thing dealing with foreign leaders in my experience … is just know the other guy.”
Of Putin, Biden said he does not think the Russian leader has a soul. Asked if he thought Putin was a killer, he told ABC: “I do.”
That’s the run up to Putin recalling Anatoly Anatov.
The Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement that it had called its ambassador, Anatoly Antonov, back to Moscow to discuss the future of Russia’s relationship with the United States. The move was designed to ensure bilateral ties did not degrade irreparably, it added.
Putin’s like the dog who’s been caught making poo on the rug. He felt fine doing that when Trump was in office, because then it was like being the doggy home alone with only the other dogs and nobody really watching who did what. Now there’s an adult in charge and uh oh.
I don’t know if thinks recalling his ambassador will affect us, but I doubt it. I don’t get the point of his move. If it’s to pressure Biden, good luck with that.
I suspect he had to make a public gesture to show his displeasure, but it’s one that would have no significant effect on future negotiations.
If ol’ Vladimir’s as clever as he thinks he is, he’ll recall Antonov permanently and send over another ambassador. Antonov was tainted by his interface with Trump, by his blatant manipulation of Putin’s puppet in the Oval Office; no way Joe Biden will ever see him as anything other than an obvious enemy of America. That’s an untenable position for any ambassador. Let’s see what Putin decides, who should represent him to Biden for the next four years. Let’s see just how clever he is.
Ambassador called to Russia so Vlad could give him the talking orders. If the guy comes back, Rojo, Lindsey, Nunes, etc., start spewing against Biden – there ya go. Russia doesn’t have to do shit. They’ve got useful idiots (even assets – witting too!) to do their dirty work – right in our own government.