Tom Balmforth

MOSCOW (Reuters). -The Kremlin condemned as “absurd” a U.S. legislators’ resolution to not recognize Vladimir Putin as Russia’s president if he remains in power beyond 2024. It was described as U.S. interference in Russian affairs.

Putin’s term of president will expire in 2024. He can still seek another term under the constitutional amendments he made while he was president. He would not have been allowed to run again under the old constitutional limitations.

According to the statement by Steve Cohen (one of its sponsors), the two U.S. senators introduced the resolution declaring that the amendments were unlawful and that any attempt to keep Putin in power after May 2024 by Putin “will warrant nonrecognition from the United States.”

Dmitry Peskov, a Kremlin spokesperson, stated that “every time we believe there is anything more absurdly aggressive, unfriendly, or unconstructive than can come from this side of the sea, and every single time we are wrong unfortunately.”

“This is an excellent demonstration, not just to Russia but also to other countries around the globe that the United States interferes with the internal affairs in countries.”

Peskov stated that it was for Russians to elect their president and Russian legislators were likely to respond.

Konstantin Kosachev was the deputy speaker of Russia’s upper house. He said that the resolution was a “provocation intended to disrupt the emerging normalisation of bilateral relations.”

He wrote that “This time, the Americans have begun meddling in presidential elections rather early,” on Facebook (NASDAQ).

On Thursday, Putin described Russian-American ties as “unsatisfactory”, but said that he is open to dialogue. Putin has suggested that a second summit be held between him and Joe Biden, according to the Kremlin.

Putin, who turns 69 in May, is in the power of president and prime minister. However, he has not yet stated whether he intends to run in 2024.