While relations between Washington and Moscow have deteriorated to an unprecedented low since the Cold War, Vladimir Putin responded, Thursday, March 18, to remarks by US President Joe Biden who had described him as a "killer" the day before.

"It is the one who says it who is!", Blurted the Russian president on Russian television: "It is not just a childish expression (...), we always see in the other our own characteristics."

In an ABC News interview on Wednesday, Joe Biden replied "yes" to whether he thought Vladimir Putin was a killer, adding that the Russian leader was devoid of soul.

This statement prompted Russia to recall its ambassador from Washington.

Vladimir Putin indicated that his last meeting with Joe Biden, on January 26, took place by telephone at the request of the American president.

He said he now proposed that the two leaders have, this Friday or next Monday, a new conversation by videoconference and broadcast live.

"I want to suggest to President Biden that we continue our discussion, but on the condition that we do so live, on the Internet, without lag and in an open and direct manner," the Russian president said.

In Washington, the White House spokeswoman said Joe Biden did not regret his comments.

Jen Psaki dodged a question about Vladimir Putin's request for a new interview immediately.

"The president has already had a meeting with President Putin, while there are other world leaders with whom he has not yet spoken," she said.

New set of sanctions

The United States is set to impose a new set of sanctions on Russia following the release of a U.S. intelligence report that Moscow attempted to interfere in the U.S. presidential election last November.

Ahead of Vladimir Putin's speech, the Kremlin spokesman said Joe Biden's remarks showed that he had no desire to re-establish ties with Moscow, which have weakened because of several points of contention - Ukraine, Syria, imprisonment of Russian opponent Alexeï Navalny.

Dmitry Peskov added that Russia would reassess its approach to relations with Washington, citing the novelty of Joe Biden's comments, he said.

The vice-president of the upper house of the Russian Parliament, Constantin Kosatchiov, judged the comments of Joe Biden "unacceptable" and declared that the recall by Moscow of its ambassador was the only reasonable step to be taken in these circumstances.

“I suspect it won't be the last (measure) if no explanation or excuse follows from the US side,” he said on Facebook.

With Reuters and AFP

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