Russia called its U.S. ambassador back to Moscow for consultations on Wednesday after U.S. President Joe Biden described his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin as a "killer" who would "pay a price" for election meddling.
In an interview with ABC News, Biden was asked about a U.S. intelligence report that the Russian leader tried to harm his candidacy in the November 2020 election and promote that of Donald Trump. "He will pay a price," the 78-year-old Biden said.
Asked if he thought Putin, who has been accused of ordering the poisoning of opposition leader Alexei Navalny and other rivals, is a "killer," Biden said: "I do."
Moscow has denied meddling in the U.S. presidential election last year or any involvement in Navalny's poisoning.