Reuters- President Vladimir Putin said on Thursday (March 18) that it takes one to know one after the U.S. president said he thought Putin was a killer, adding that he wished Biden good health.
Putin was speaking on television after Biden, in an ABC News interview that prompted Russia to recall its Washington ambassador for consultations on Wednesday, said "I do" when asked if he believed the Russian president was a killer.
Biden also described Putin as having no soul, and said he would pay a price for alleged Russian meddling in the November 2020 U.S. presidential election, something the Kremlin denies.
"I remember in my childhood, when we argued in the courtyard we used to say: it takes one to know one. And that's not a coincidence, not just a children's saying or joke," Putin said.
"We always see our own traits in other people and think they are like how we really are. And as a result we assess (a person's) activities and give assessments," he said.
"As he (Biden) said, we know each other personally. What would I reply to him? I would say: I wish you health. I wish you health. I say that without any irony or joke," Putin added.
In a highly unusual move following Biden's interview, Russia said it was recalling its ambassador to the United States for urgent consultations over the future of U.S.-Russia ties.
Shortly before Putin spoke, the Kremlin's spokesman said Biden's remarks showed he had no interest in fixing ties with Moscow.
Konstantin Kosachyov, deputy chairman of parliament's upper house, said Biden's comments were unacceptable, would inevitably inflame already bad ties, and ended any hope in Moscow of a change of U.S. policy under the new U.S. administration.
He said Moscow's recall of its ambassador was the only reasonable step to take in the circumstances.
Russia's ties with the West, already languishing at post-Cold War lows since 2014, have come under new pressure in recent months over Russia's jailing of Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny whose freedom the West has demanded.
Russia has dismissed that as unacceptable interference in its domestic affairs.
The United States has said it is preparing new sanctions against Russia over an alleged hack and the alleged meddling in the 2020 election.
Biden told ABC "You'll see shortly" when asked what consequences Russia would face for its alleged behavior.
Russia's foreign ministry said Moscow expected an explanation for Biden's remarks, the Interfax news agency reported.
Artur Chilingarov, a pro-Kremlin lawmaker in the lower house of parliament, called for a "tough reaction" from Moscow, in comments made to Russia's Ekho Moskvy radio station.
