Putin Challenges Biden to Live Debate After U.S. President Calls Him a Killer

Alexey Druzhinin/Getty Images

Russian President Vladimir Putin challenged his U.S. counterpart Joe Biden to a live debate on Thursday.

The challenge comes after Biden said Putin was a “killer” in an interview with ABC News, a remark that set up a furor in Russia and multiple responses from the Russian leader.

“I’ve just thought of this now,” Putin told an RT reporter. “I want to propose to President Biden to continue our discussion, but on the condition that we do it basically live, as it’s called. Without any delays and directly in an open, direct discussion. It seems to me that would be interesting for the people of Russia and for the people of the United States.”

Putin went on to propose that they hold the debate as early as this Friday, to allow him time to enjoy a weekend getaway.

“I don’t want to put this off for long. I want to go the taiga this weekend to relax a little,” Putin said. “So we could do it tomorrow or Monday. We are ready at any time convenient for the American side.”

When asked about the offer at Thursday’s White House press briefing, press secretary Jen Psaki said Biden is “quite busy.”

“I’ll have to get back to you if that is something we’re entertaining. I would say that the president already had a conversation with President Putin,” Psaki said. “The president, of course, will be in Georgia tomorrow and quite busy.”

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