INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
Russian President Vladimir Putin described United States 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.United States 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 United
States 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 support the alliance.
