Vladimir Putin has discussed who his “favourite” US president is, while attending the Eastern Economic Forum in Vladivostok, Russia.
The Russian president also spoke about Kamala Harris’s “infectious laugh” and criticised former President Donald Trump’s sanctions on the country.
Mr Putin’s comments have been met with criticism, with US Security Council spokesman, John Kirby saying “Mr Putin ought to stop talking about our elections, period. He shouldn’t be favouring anybody one way or another”.
The comments come at a time of heightened relations between the US and Russia, after US Attorney General Merrick Garland accused Russia’s state broadcaster, RT, of paying a Tennessee firm $10m to “create and distribute content to US audience with hidden Russian government messaging”.
As a result, Russian state media executives have been charged and sanctioned by the US for allegedly interfering with the presidential election.
