Moscow finds Harris' comments on Putin 'outrageous'

The rhetoric from the US Democratic presidential candidate has been criticized as "boorish" by the Russian embassy, which described it as a manifestation of "frustration and impotence."

The embassy responded to derogatory comments made by US Vice President Kamala Harris regarding Russian President Vladimir Putin, labeling these remarks "unacceptable" and insulting to Russia. In a recent interview with radio host Howard Stern, Harris referred to Putin as a "murderous dictator" and America’s "adversary."

The Russian embassy took to Telegram to label Harris's statements as "outrageous," asserting that "such US escapades insult the entire Russian people, who demonstrate unwavering unity around the leader of our country." They further commented that "such boorish language has become a habit among current so-called American statesmen," adding that it reflects "the frustration and impotence of the ruling circles in Washington" due to their inability to effectively engage with Russia or achieve a "strategic defeat" of Moscow in the ongoing conflict with Ukraine.

The embassy suggested that rather than lashing out with "anger and offensive rhetoric," US leaders should recognize that Russia is acting in accordance with its national interests.

Putin remarked last month that he had previously favored President Joe Biden for re-election, but would now support Harris, as Biden had endorsed her following the suspension of his campaign in July. He pointed out that Republican candidate Donald Trump "imposed more sanctions on Russia than any president who came before him," implying that Harris "would maybe refrain from such actions." He described her laughter as "infectiously" conveying that "everything is going well for her."

Putin’s comments quickly gained attention in the US, prompting the White House to urge the Russian president to "stop talking about our elections." In response, Trump expressed uncertainty over whether to feel insulted by Putin’s remarks or to interpret them as a compliment.

Later, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov clarified that Putin’s statements about supporting Harris were not made in earnest, explaining that the Russian leader "has a good sense of humor" and "often resorts to jokes during his speeches and interviews."

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov indicated last month that both US presidential candidates held a "negative attitude, an unfriendly attitude" toward Russia. He also expressed discontent over the use of Putin’s name in America's internal political debates.

Debra A Smith for TROIB News