|
This article requires pre-publication review by an uninvolved reviewer (one not substantially involved in writing the article). Note, only qualified reviewers may do this and publish articles. This right requires experience with Wikinews policies and procedures. To request the right, apply here.Reviewers, please use Easy Peer Review per these instructions.
-Article last amended: Mar 18 at 14:32:40 UTC (history) |
| This article requires pre-publication review by an uninvolved reviewer (one not substantially involved in writing the article).
Note, only qualified reviewers may do this and publish articles. This right requires experience with Wikinews policies and procedures. To request the right, apply here.Reviewers, please use Easy Peer Review per these instructions.
-Article last amended: Mar 18 at 14:32:40 UTC (history) |
Thursday, March 18, 2021
Russian ambassador to the United States Anatoly Antonov was abruptly recalled on Wednesday after US President Joe Biden hinted in an interview he felt Vladimir Putin was a killer; and said Russia would “pay a price” for alleged electoral interference in the 2020 presidential election.
In an interview with ABC News Tuesday following the release of a report by US intelligence officials confirming the Russian leader’s authorisation of operations “aimed at denigrating President Biden’s candidacy”, Biden said “[h]e will pay a price. […] I know you and you know me. If I establish this occurred, then be prepared.” Upon interviewer George Stephanopoulos asking if “[y]ou think he’s a killer?”, Biden responded “I do”, but it was possible to “walk and chew gum at the same time where it’s in our mutual interest”.
This came after the United States sanctioned seven senior members of the Russian government earlier this month over the poisoning of opposition leader Alexei Navalny and a new set of “sanctions targeting in particular high-tech components” announced today.
White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki said while “we have still found ways to work together in areas where we have mutual interest”, President Biden will not “hold back in direct communications”. Spokesperson for the US State Department Jalina Porter echoed Psaki’s sentiments, saying “[w]e remain clear-eyed about the challenges that Russia poses, and even as we work with Russia to advance US interests, we’ll also work to hold them accountable”.
The State Department had “nothing to comment” as to whether it would recall its own ambassador John J. Sullivan, who has been posted in Moscow since 2020.
In a statement on the Russian Foreign Ministry’s website, spokeswoman Maria Zakharova confirmed “Anatoly Antonov has been summoned to Moscow for consultations” and “[w]e are interested in preventing an irreversible deterioration in relations, if the Americans become aware of the risks associated”.