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- White House press secretary Jen Psaki said Joe Biden doesn't regret agreeing that Vladimir Putin is "a killer."
- "The president gave a direct answer to a direct question," Psaki said of Biden's comment.
- In a highly unusual move, the Russian government recalled its US ambassador from Washington on Wednesday.
- See more stories on Insider's business page.
President Joe Biden doesn't regret agreeing with ABC News' George Stephanopoulos during recent interview that Russian President Vladimir Putin is "a killer," White House press secretary Jen Psaki said Thursday.
In a highly unusual move shortly after Biden's remarks aired on national television, the Russian government recalled its US ambassador from Washington, DC, citing "an irreversible deterioration in relations."
"It takes one to know one," Putin said when asked to comment on Biden's criticism of him.
"The president gave a direct answer to a direct question," Psaki told a reporter who asked whether Biden regretted his remark.
-The Recount (@therecount) March 18, 2021
Stephanopoulos asked Biden if he believed Putin is a "killer" during an interview that aired this week.
Biden replied, "Mm-hmm. I do."
Biden also said Putin will "pay a price" for meddling in US elections in an attempt to boost former President Donald Trump and divide American voters.
"We had a long talk, he and I," Biden added, referring to his January 26 phone call with Putin. "I know him relatively well. And our conversation started off, I said, 'I know you and you know me. If I establish this occurred, then be prepared.'"