Russian President Vladimir Putin will not be tuning in to the debate between former President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris on Tuesday, the Kremlin announced.
"No, we don't plan to watch [the Trump-Harris debate]," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Tuesday.
When reporters asked whether the Kremlin had any expectations from the pair during the debate, Peskov responded: "Expecting something is not our business; it's the business of American voters."
The televised faceoff between Trump and Harris on ABC News, scheduled at 9 p.m. ET (September 11 at 4 a.m. Moscow time), will take place less than two months before Americans cast their ballots in the 2024 presidential election. It marks the first time the two candidates have debated.
Putin smirkingly said last week that Russia was endorsing Harris in the 2024 election. At the Eastern Economic Forum in Vladivostok on September 5, Putin joked about the Democrat's "infectious" laugh as a reason to prefer her over Trump.
He spoke with a wry smile just hours after the Biden administration accused Moscow of a widespread, sophisticated election interference campaign. U.S. intelligence agencies believe Putin is hoping for Trump to take the White House in November, given his skepticism over U.S. funding of Ukraine's war machine.
The Russian leader said his "favorite" candidate was formerly President Joe Biden before he withdrew from the race in July, but that Russia would now "support" Harris.
"I told you our favorite if you can call it that, was President Biden. He's now out of the race, but he asked his supporters to back Ms. Harris, so we'll do the same," Putin said.
"The choice is ultimately up to the American people, and we will respect that decision. Favorites aren't for us to decide—it's the American people's choice," he added.
Harris "laughs so expressively and infectiously that she must be doing well," Putin said.
"Trump imposed more restrictions and sanctions on Russia than any president before. If Ms. Harris is doing well, maybe she'll avoid actions like that," he added.
U.S. national security spokesman John Kirby told reporters on September 5 that Putin "ought to stop talking about our elections, period."
"He shouldn't be favoring anybody one way or another. The only people who should get to determine who the next president of the United States is the American people. And we would greatly appreciate it if Mr. Putin would a) stop talking about our election and b) stop interfering in it," Kirby added.
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