Russia might have delayed saying its withdrawal from the Ukrainian metropolis of Kherson in an effort to keep away from the Joe Biden administration from projecting it as a political win forward of the midterm elections, CNN reported citing US intelligence. The report mentioned that senior Russian officers mentioned the US midterms as a significant component throughout talks concerning the withdrawal announcement.
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Ready till after the US election was at all times a “pre-planned situation” of Russia’s withdrawal from Kherson, the report mentioned. If not for the US midterms, Russia had few different operational choices and had been making ready to drag again for weeks, the report mentioned. The report mentioned that this choice exhibits Russia has a continued curiosity in influencing the US political panorama.
US president Joe Biden final week additionally appeared to trace that the US believed that the timing of Russia’s announcement was greater than mere coincidence.
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“I discover it fascinating they waited till after the election to make that judgement, which we knew for a while they had been going to be doing, and it’s proof of the truth that they’ve some actual issues – the Russian navy,” Joe Biden mentioned.
Joe Biden additionally mentioned that he hoped that with the midterm elections over, the Russians can be extra keen to barter the discharge of US residents detained in Russia, together with Brittney Griner and Paul Whelan.