Putin’s ‘Joke’ on Supporting Harris in U.S. Election, Kremlin Clarifies

Vladimir Putin’s Election Comments Labeled ‘Humor’ by Russian Officials; Zelenskyy Eyes Meeting with Trump

Russian President Vladimir Putin was “joking” when he said Moscow supported Democratic candidate Kamala Harris in the upcoming U.S. presidential election, according to Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov. Speaking in an interview with Sky News Arabia, Lavrov emphasized Putin’s sense of humor after the Russian leader teased that Harris’ “infectious” laugh was a reason to favor her over Republican candidate Donald Trump.

“It was a joke,” Lavrov said, when asked how U.S. elections could impact Russia’s foreign policy. He downplayed any significant differences in Russia’s stance toward the U.S. elections, attributing policy consistency to what he called the influence of the American “deep state,” though he did not provide evidence for this claim.

The White House had previously responded to Putin’s remarks, urging him to avoid commenting on the U.S. election, which is set for November 5.

Zelenskyy Seeks Key U.S. Meetings, Including Trump

Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is planning a visit to the United States next week, where he aims to meet former President Donald Trump as part of his broader efforts to secure increased support for Ukraine in its ongoing conflict with Russia.

Zelenskyy will attend sessions at the U.N. Security Council and General Assembly, while also meeting President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris separately on September 26. He expressed hope that a meeting with Trump, who is running for the Republican nomination, will occur between September 26-27.

The Ukrainian president intends to present his “victory plan” for ending the war, which he says relies on decisive action from Ukraine’s allies in the coming months. The plan, which has been shared with key figures like Biden and Harris, emphasizes the importance of ramping up military and diplomatic support, including the potential lifting of U.S. restrictions on long-range missile strikes against Russian territory.

With Russian forces advancing in eastern Ukraine, Zelenskyy has dismissed any possibility of freezing the war, arguing that it would only delay future Russian aggression.