INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
Russian President Vladimir Putin described U.S
counterpart Joe Biden on Wednesday as more "predictable" than Donald Trump, but said the Kremlin was prepared to work with whoever wins
November's election.Asked by a journalist who Russia would like to see win in the likely contest between the Democratic incumbent and
Republican frontrunner Trump, Putin said: "Biden, he's more experienced
He's predictable, he's an old-school politician."Putin batted away questions about Biden's age and health, with the president set to turn 82
just weeks after the election."When I met Mr
Biden three years ago, it's true, people were already talking about his inabilities, but I saw nothing of the sort," said Putin, evidently
referring to a summit in Geneva.U.S
polls show voters have strong concerns about Biden's age.The age issue has been compounded by two recent episodes, when Biden confused
European leaders with dead predecessors.The White House was forced to vehemently defend the president's competence last week after a special
counsel report described him as an "elderly man with a poor memory."Biden himself responded angrily to the accusation, but then compounded
the problem by mixing up the presidents of Egypt and Mexico.Trump, 77, has also mixed up people's names recently, confusing his last rival
for the Republican presidential nomination, Nikki Haley, with former U.S
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.Putin nonetheless expressed strong opposition to Washington's foreign policy under Biden."What we have to examine
is the political position, and that of the current administration is extremely harmful and wrong," said Putin.The Biden administration has
led a Western response to come to Ukraine's aid in the two-year conflict with Russia.The stated preference for Biden comes despite his harsh
criticisms of Putin, and after Trump on numerous occasions expressed admiration for the Kremlin leader.The Republican also ran into fierce
criticism after recently suggesting that he would encourage Russia to attack any NATO country which he thought had not paid enough money to
