Vladimir Putin will ‘pay a price’ for influencing US elections: Joe Biden

President Joe Biden discussed foreign policy and the possibility for bipartisanship during one of his first major interviews with ABC News’s George Stephanopolous in Washington.

Answers by Biden gave more insight into the emerging foreign policy by the administration and also the White House’s upcoming strategy for passing its policy agenda in a divided Congress.

On Russian President Vladimir Putin

According to a declassified document, Russia and Iran attempted to influence the 2020 elections in the United States through influence campaigns that used misinformation and other clandestine processes.

Referring to the Russian President, Vladimir Putin, Biden warned, “He will pay a price.”

Biden agreed, saying “Mhmm, I think I do,” on asking if he thought Putin was a “killer” by Stephanopolous.

On Afghanistan troop withdrawal

As the deadline of May 1 is approaching closer for the U.S. to withdraw troops from Afghanistan, Biden acknowledged that a full drawdown may be difficult to meet. 

Biden said of the U.S. troops in Afghanistan that he is in the process of making that decision now as to when they’ll leave. “The fact is, that was not a very solidly negotiated deal that the president, the former president, worked out.”

Trump administration negotiated the May 1 withdrawal date in February 2020 as part of a peace deal between the Afghan government and the Taliban.  

Biden said that the deal has cost him much time and consequences in remedying the situation due to its poor structure. 

He acknowledged that the U.S. meeting the May 1 deadline to withdraw troops from Afghanistan “could happen, but it is tough.” Biden also said that if it could not meet the deadline it won’t be for much longer.

On taxes and cooperation with Republicans

Biden reemphasized that he does not intend to raise taxes on anyone making less than $400,000 a year.

“Anybody making more than $400,000 will see a small to a significant tax increase,” Biden said, reiterating his stance that wealthy Americans should pay more. “You make less than $400,000, you won’t see one single penny in additional federal tax,” he promised.