Putin said earlier this month that Russia wanted Harris to win the contest in a teasing comment that cited her “infectious” laugh as a reason to prefer her over Republican candidate and former President Donald Trump. The Russian leader’s remark prompted the White House to say Putin should stop commenting on the Nov. 5 election, Reuters reported.
“It was a joke,” Lavrov said, when asked how much the change in US president would affect Russia’s foreign policy. “President Putin has a good sense of humor. He often jokes during his statements and interviews.
“I see no long-term differences in our attitude to the current or previous elections in the United States, because it is ruled by the notorious ‘deep state’,” Lavrov said, without giving evidence for that assertion.
Lavrov’s comments were published on the foreign ministry website on Friday.