Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday appeared to endorse Vice President Kamala Harris in the 2024 presidential race against former President Donald Trump.
According to multiple reports, Putin was asked at the Eastern Economic Forum he attended in eastern Russia about his views on the upcoming US elections.
The Russian president, apparently smiling alongside the event’s moderator, said that ultimately it was up to the American people to decide, but added that as President Biden has endorsed Harris, “we will do the same, we will support her.”
“She laughs so expressively and contagiously that it means everything is going well for her,” he added.
Russian President Vladimir Putin attends a plenary session of the Eastern Economic Forum in Vladivostok, Russia, September 5, 2024. (Kirill Kazachkov/Roscongress Foundation via REUTERS)
Putin says he prefers Biden, more predictable than Trump
Earlier this year, Putin threw his support behind Biden before dropping out of the race, saying he preferred Biden to Trump because he is a more predictable candidate.
According to Rebekah Koffler, a former DIA intelligence officer and author of “Putin’s Playbook,” “the Russians don’t really support anyone in the traditional sense.
“When it comes to preferences, Putin and his regime prefer to deal with Kamala as the future president of the United States,” Koffler told Fox News Digital. “Putin thinks he can manipulate Harris easily, unlike Trump, who the Russians describe as unpredictable and difficult to read.”
“By making these statements, the Russians are making fun of us, and especially of the Harris team,” Koffler added. “This is a classic influence operation that aims to unbalance the adversary by mocking him, teasing him and pleasing him, or rather pretending to please him.”
Despite Putin’s comments about his apparent support for Democratic candidates over Trump, the U.S. intelligence community continues to believe that Putin would prefer a second Trump presidency, according to reports published earlier this year.
Former President Donald Trump, left, and vice presidential nominee U.S. Sen. J.D. Vance, R-Ohio, appear on the first day of the Republican National Convention on July 15, 2024. (Win McNamee/Getty Images)
WHY PUTIN PREFERRED HARRIS TO TRUMP IN THE WHITE HOUSE
This assessment would be consistent with the actions authorized by Putin during the 2016 and 2020 elections, when Russia was found to have engaged in some degree of election interference by conducting disinformation campaigns to boost Trump’s candidacy.
According to an investigation into the 2020 election, the US Director of National Intelligence found that “President Putin of Russia authorized and a range of Russian government organizations conducted influence operations designed to denigrate President Biden’s candidacy and the Democratic Party, support former President Trump, undermine public confidence in the electoral process, and exacerbate sociopolitical divisions in the United States.”
Russia has denied interfering in the US elections, even though Putin’s apparent support for Democratic candidates and their stated policy positions run counter to its strategic interests.
Trump has criticized U.S. support for Ukraine in its war against Russia after the invasion more than two and a half years ago, and his chosen running mate, vice presidential candidate J.D. Vance, has openly said, “I don’t care what happens to Ukraine one way or the other.”
Moreover, NATO leaders remain concerned about the impact a second Trump presidency could have on the military alliance, as he has suggested he would withdraw U.S. troops from Europe — a move some fear would destabilize the alliance and embolden Putin.
Trump has said he has a plan to end the war if elected, though he has remained silent on concrete policy steps to achieve it.
People walk among the graves at the Field of Mars cemetery in Lviv, Ukraine, on August 24, 2024 to commemorate the fallen soldiers on Ukraine’s Independence Day amid the Russian invasion of Ukraine. (Photo by Ivan STANISLAVSKY / AFP)
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On Thursday, Putin said he was open to the idea of engaging in peace talks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, saying: “If Ukraine wants to continue negotiations, I can do that.”
These comments are a reversal from his previous statements when he said there was no possibility of negotiations in the context of Ukraine’s invasion of Kursk.
Putin also suggested that Brazil, India or China could act as mediators in the negotiations – a condition Ukraine is unlikely to accept since China helped Russia in its war.
Reuters contributed to this report.
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