Kremlin declines to comment on US election outcome until results final

The photo shows the Kremlin in Moscow, Russia. COURTESY OR RUSSIAN EMBASSY

MOSCOW — The Kremlin said Monday it would wait for the official results of the U.S. presidential election before commenting on its outcome, and that it had noted incumbent Donald Trump’s announcement of legal challenges related to the vote.

President Vladimir Putin has remained silent on the issue since Democrat Joe Biden clinched the presidency on Saturday, four days after the Nov. 3 election, clearing the threshold of 270 Electoral College votes needed to win the White House.

Speaking to reporters on a conference call, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Moscow deemed it was better to wait for the official results before commenting.

Peskov added that Putin had repeatedly said he was ready to work with any U.S. leader and that Russia hoped it could establish a dialog with the new U.S. administration and find a way to normalize relations.