Joe Biden Must Apologize For Putin 'Killer' Claim, Russia Says

Biden's remark is a "watershed" in relations and "unacceptable in any circumstances," Konstantin Kosachyov, deputy speaker of Russia's upper house of parliament, wrote on Facebook Thursday.

US President Joe Biden must apologize and take back "boorish" allegations that Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin is a killer, a top Russian official said, a day after Moscow recalled its ambassador in protest. Agree that Russia recalling Amb. Antonov from Washington is not a crisis. It is the consequence of bad relations, mainly due to Putin's aggression against the US, Europe, and some of Russia's neighbors (and his own people). @ACEurasiahttps://t.co/hj82iuG0ph Biden's remark is a "watershed" in relations and "unacceptable in any circumstances," Konstantin Kosachyov, deputy speaker of Russia's upper house of parliament, wrote on Facebook Thursday. Moscow's initial reaction -- recalling its US ambassador -- "won't be the last, unless there is an explanation and an apology from the American side." The Foreign Ministry announced it was summoning Ambassador Anatoly Antonov for consultations in a statement late Wednesday. Warning of the risks of "an irreversible deterioration in relations" with the new U.S. administration, the ministry said Russia still hopes to reverse the downward spiral in ties. The diplomatic demarche came after Biden agreed with ABC News Chief Anchor George Stephanopoulos in an interview that Putin was a killer and said the Russian leader would "pay a price" for alleged meddling in US elections.