Russian President Vladimir Putin has hit back after U.S. President Joe Biden agreed in a TV interview that Putin was a "killer." Putin challenged his American counterpart to a live televised debate Friday or Monday, news reports said Friday.
Putin went on state-run TV after Biden's "very bad statements" and said "it takes one to know one." He said he was ready to talk with the U.S. President on the countries' relationship.
"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," ABC News quoted the Russian leader as saying.
Putin said as the world's two leading superpowers the debate would prove interesting for the U.S. and Russian people - as well as for the international community.
But the White House rejected Putin's request saying the president is "busy." Putin said he would have his foreign ministry arrange something for Friday or Monday.
Biden said Putin "will pay a price" for his attempted sabotage of the 2020 U.S. election after U.S. intelligence found his government intervened by defaming Biden's candidacy. The report accused Russia of trying to swing the election in favor of President Donald Trump.
ABC interviewer George Stephanopoulos asked Biden if he thought Putin was a "killer," Biden said, "Mhmm. I do."
Putin has recalled its U.S. ambassador. He criticized the U.S. for slavery, its treatment of Native Americans and the atomic bombing of Japan in World War Two.
White House press secretary Jen Psaki said a live discussion was unlikely because Biden was traveling to Georgia Friday.
Psaki said Biden had no regrets about his comments. "Nope. The president gave a direct answer to a direct question," she said.
The U.S. is expected to implement sanctions against Russia as soon as next week over the intelligence report's conclusions.
