Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov clarified that President Vladimir Putin's recent comments regarding support for Democratic candidate Kamala Harris in the upcoming U.S. presidential election were made in jest.
In an interview with Sky News Arabia, Lavrov stated, "It was a joke. President Putin has a good sense of humour and often incorporates jokes into his statements and interviews."
This clarification follows Putin’s earlier remarks in which he noted that Russia would prefer Harris over Republican candidate Donald Trump, citing her "infectious" laugh.
The Russian leader's comments prompted a swift response from the White House, with officials urging Putin to refrain from commenting on the November 5 election.
Lavrov further asserted that Russia does not anticipate significant changes in its foreign policy regardless of the election outcome, dismissing any notion of a shift in attitudes toward U.S. politics.
He emphasized, "I see no long-term differences in our attitude to the current or previous elections in the United States, because it is ruled by the notorious 'deep state,'" a claim that he did not substantiate.
These remarks were published on the Russian Foreign Ministry's website on Friday, underscoring the ongoing tension between Washington and Moscow as the election approaches.
