Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday appeared to endorse Vice President Kamala Harris in the 2024 presidential election against former President Donald Trump.

According to several reports, Putin was asked about his assessment of the upcoming US elections during the Eastern Economic Forum he attended in eastern Russia.

The Russian president, apparently smiling next to the event’s moderator, said the decision ultimately rests with the American people, but added that President Biden has supported Harris and that “we will do the same, we will support her.”

“Her laugh is so expressive and infectious that it means everything is fine with her,” he added.

Russian President Vladimir Putin attends a plenary session of the Eastern Economic Forum in Vladivostok, Russia, September 5, 2024. (Kirill Kazachkov/Roscongress Foundation via REUTERS)

Putin claims he prefers the “more predictable” Biden to Trump

Earlier this year, Putin endorsed Biden before he dropped out of the race, claiming he preferred Biden to Trump because he was a more predictable candidate.

According to Rebekah Koffler, a former DIA intelligence officer and author of “Putin’s Playbook,” “the Russians are not supporting anyone in the traditional sense.”

“In terms of preference, Putin and his regime prefer Kamala as the next U.S. president,” Koffler told Fox News Digital. “Putin believes he can easily manipulate Harris, unlike Trump, who the Russians portrayed as unpredictable and difficult to read.”

The picture of former President Trump and Vice President Harris can be seen side by side. (Getty Images)

“With these statements, the Russians just want to screw us, especially the Harris team,” Koffler added. “It’s a classic influence move to unbalance the opponent by mocking him, annoying him and pleasing him, or rather pretending to please him.”

Despite Putin’s comments that he apparently supports the Democratic candidates over Trump, US intelligence reports from earlier this year continue to believe that Putin would prefer a second Trump presidency.

Former President Donald Trump (left) and vice presidential candidate U.S. Senator JD Vance (R-Ohio) appear on the first day of the Republican National Convention on July 15, 2024. (Win McNamee/Getty Images)

Why Putin prefers Harris to Trump in the White House

The assessment is reportedly consistent with actions authorized by Putin in the 2016 and 2020 elections, when Russia was held liable for some election manipulation by conducting disinformation campaigns to boost Trump’s candidacy.

According to an investigation into the 2020 election, the Director of National Intelligence found that “Russian President Putin authorized, and a number of Russian government organizations conducted, influence operations aimed at denigrating President Biden’s candidacy and the Democratic Party, supporting former President Trump, undermining public confidence in the electoral process, and exacerbating sociopolitical divisions in the United States.”

Russia denies interfering in US elections, but Putin’s apparent support for Democratic candidates and the policy positions they profess runs counter to his strategic interests.

Trump has been critical of US support in the war against Russia since the invasion of Ukraine more than two and a half years ago, and his chosen running mate, US presidential candidate JD Vance, openly stated: “I don’t really care what happens to Ukraine, one way or another.”

In addition, NATO leaders remain concerned about the impact of a second Trump presidency on the military alliance. Trump has indicated he would withdraw US troops from Europe – a move that some fear could destabilise the alliance and embolden Putin.

Trump has stated that he has a plan to end the war if he is elected. However, he has remained silent about concrete political steps to achieve this.

People walk among the graves at the Field of Mars cemetery in Lviv, Ukraine, on August 24, 2024, to commemorate the fallen soldiers during the Russian invasion of Ukraine on the occasion of Ukraine’s Independence Day. (Photo by Ivan STANISLAVSKY / AFP)

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Putin said on Thursday he was open to peace talks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, saying: “If Ukraine has the desire to continue negotiations, I can do that.”

With these comments, he went against his earlier statements in which he said there was no possibility for talks in view of the Ukrainian invasion of Kursk.

Putin also suggested that Brazil, India or China could act as mediators in the talks – a condition that Ukraine is unlikely to agree to, however, as China supported Russia in the war.

Reuters contributed to this report.