Anatoly Antonov, Russian ambassador to the US. (US Mission Genevia Flickr).
The Russian ambassador to the United States arrived in Moscow this Sunday to advise the government of the European country on the relationship between the two nations.
After US President Joe Biden referred to his Russian counterpart as a “murderer,” Putin also responded by stating that “it took one murderer to recognize another,” the AFP news agency reported.
The already shaky relationship between the two countries has become even more strained since a Biden interview last week, in which he also threatened Putin with making him “pay a price” for his alleged intervention in the elections last November.
Last Wednesday, the Russian Foreign Ministry announced that its ambassador, Anatoly Antonov, would withdraw from the US for “urgent talks” after the Biden interview.
The Kremlin denied allegations of election meddling, claiming they were “unfounded” and baseless.
On the claim for being a “murderer”, Putin responded with the childish expression, “whoever says so is.”, although he did offer to hold a live conversation with Biden, to which he has not responded.
Later, in a public videoconference, the Russian president pointed out that Biden’s statements reflect past and current problems between the two powers, and that his country will continue to work to improve their relationship, but first of all, it will protect its interests.
This Sunday, Antonov’s departure was documented by the Russian Embassy in Washington, which shared a photograph of him at a US airport, with an Aeroflot plane stopped on the runway.
“Russian Ambassador Anatoly Antonov is on his way to Moscow to participate in consultations on the rectification of relations between Russia and the United States,” said the diplomatic headquarters in social networks.
The main state channel read excerpts of letters sent to Antonov by Americans prior to his departure, apologizing for Biden’s comments about Putin.
The Russian diplomat told the media that although there was a lot to work on, both governments had an interest in keeping the lines of communication open.