FILE PHOTO: The clock on Spasskaya tower showing the time at noon, is pictured next to Moscow鈥檚 Kremlin, and St. Basil鈥檚 Cathedral as they stand on an empty square, during the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak, in Moscow, Russia, March 31, 2020. REUTERS/Maxim Shemetov
MOSCOW 鈥� The Kremlin said on Friday that Moscow always hoped for the best but prepared for the worst when it was asked about the possibility of a new Cold War between the United States and Russia.
Diplomatic ties sank to a new low this week after U.S. President Joe Biden said he thought President Vladimir Putin was 鈥渁 killer鈥� in an interview that prompted Russia to recall its ambassador to the United States. Putin later offered Biden live online talks in the coming days.
On Friday, the Kremlin鈥檚 spokesman, Dmitry Peskov, said Putin鈥檚 offer of talks remained open and that Putin could do any time that was convenient for Biden, though the offer would not stay on the table indefinitely.
鈥淧utin said that despite everything there鈥檚 no point in playing at megaphone diplomacy and trading barbs. There is a point in continuing relations,鈥� Peskov told reporters on a conference call.
He was asked about a new Cold War between the two countries.
鈥淲e, of course, always hope for the best, but are always ready for the worst. As far as Russia is concerned, President Putin has clearly stated his desire to continue ties鈥�,鈥� he said.
鈥淏ut of course, we can鈥檛 not take into account Biden鈥檚 comments,鈥� he said, in a reference to Biden鈥檚 interview with ABC 黑料社 broadcast on Wednesday.
In it, Biden said 鈥淚 do鈥� when asked if he believed Putin was a killer, prompting Putin to cite a Russian children鈥檚 playground chant in response saying 鈥渉e who said it, did it鈥�.
Biden also described Putin as having no soul in the interview, and said the Russian leader would pay a price for alleged meddling in the November 2020 U.S. presidential election, something the Kremlin denies.