Russias Vladimir Putin not ready to recognise Joe Biden as USA president
Russian leader Vladimir Putin on Sunday said that he'll work with whoever becomes the USA president - but won't congratulate a victor until all legal avenues are exhausted or one of the candidates concedes.
According to Russian news agency, the President said he would congratulate whoever emerges the victor of the USA presidential election once all the legal formalities are settled.
The Russian president was asked whether whether his refusal to congratulate Biden would harm relations between his country and the US.
Putin described the Kremlin's decision not to congratulate Biden as "a formality" with no ulterior motives.
"We will work with anyone who has the confidence of the American people", Putin said during a recent interview on Russian television.
Just days after the election was called in Biden's favour, Putin's spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters that this election is different. TASS reported that Putin explained that "Russia's authorities are ready to work with any U.S. President-elect but now it's important to wait until the vote count is completed and "the domestic political struggle" in the United States ends".
A legal process is ongoing in a number of American states, with both Biden and incumbent President Donald Trump claiming victory in the poll.
Trump, who is yet to concede defeat and has been making unsubstantiated claims of electoral fraud, received a slap in the face after a Pennsylvania federal judge threw out his lawsuit challenging Biden's win. Download BRIEFLY's news app on Google Play now and stay up-to-date with major South African news!