President Vladimir Putin of Russia has congratulated Joe Biden on winning the US presidential election.
His message to Biden came a day after the Electoral College confirmed Biden as the nation’s next president amid President Donald Trump’s refusal to concede that he had lost in the November election.
Putin was one of the last world leaders who had not acknowledged Biden’s victory, saying he would hold off on congratulating until the winner was officially confirmed.
In a telegram sent to Biden, and published by Russian state media, Russia’s longtime leader “expressed confidence that Russia and the U.S., who bear special responsibility for global security and stability, can facilitate resolution of many problems and challenges faced by the world now despite disagreements.”
The Russian president noted that “the Russian-American cooperation based on the principles of equality and mutual respect would meet the interests of the people in both countries and the entire international community.”
“For my part, I am ready for interaction and contact with you,” Putin was quoted by the Kremlin as saying.
Putin’s congratulatory message to Biden come as cybersecurity experts pointed the finger at the Russian government for carrying out a massive, months-long digital spying operation that targeted the U.S. government, military, and corporations. Russia denies any involvement in the hacking attack.
