Russian President Vladimir Putin congratulated President-elect Joe Biden on winning the US presidential election — after weeks of holding out until the vote was officially confirmed.
“For my part, I am ready for interaction and contact with you,” Putin’s message for the former vice president said, according to a statement released by the Kremlin on Tuesday.
The message came a day after the Electoral College affirmed Biden’s victory in the 2020 presidential election on Nov. 3.
In his message, Putin also wished the former vice president “every success.”
“Putin wished the president-elect every success and expressed confidence that Russia and the United States, which have a special responsibility for global security and stability, could, despite their differences, really help to solve the many problems and challenges facing the world,” the Kremlin said.
Electors from the 50 states and the District of Columbia gathered on Monday to tally their ballots, giving Biden 306 electoral votes to President Trump’s 232.
A candidate must amass 270 electoral votes to win the presidency.