Putin challenges Biden to a debate.

Russian President Vladimir Putin challenged Biden to participate in a live broadcast conversation after Biden referred to him as a killer.

Russian President Vladimir Putin challenged Biden to participate in a live broadcast conversation after Biden referred to him as a killer.During an interview with ABC News on March 17, 2021, President Joe Biden was asked whether he thought President Vladimir Putin was a "killer." In response, Biden agreed and said that Putin would "pay a price" for interfering in the U.S. presidential elections. Reacting to this, Putin challenged Biden to an on-air conversation to discuss Biden's latest warning. Putin told a reporter in Moscow on March 18, 2021, "I want to invite President Biden to continue our discussion, but on the conditions that we do it live. But with no delays, directly in an open, direct discussion."

ABC News reported that the Biden administration ordered sanctions on Russian officials for poisoning and jailing the Russian opposition leader Alexey Navalny.

Putin rejected accusations that his security services tried to kill Navalny.

Before challenging Biden to a conversation, Putin reacted to Biden's comment with a retort: "It takes one to know one." Putin referred to America's history of colonization and slavery and said that Biden projected his guilt by calling Putin a killer. He also wished Biden good health. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters that Biden's words had confirmed that he has no interest in improving relations with Russia.

In response to reporters' questions, White House press secretary Jen Psaki suggested the discussion was unlikely to happen and noted that Biden was scheduled to travel to Georgia on March 19, 2021.