US President Joe Biden's recent decision to withdraw from the presidential race did not surprise the Kremlin, according to Russian presidential press secretary Dmitry Peskov.

"Frankly speaking, what has been going on in the United States in recent years has taught us to never be surprised. So, it did not come as a surprise," Peskov told journalists on July 22. The Kremlin remains vigilant, closely monitoring political developments not only in the United States but also in other major countries around the world, he explained.

Biden announced that he would be withdrawing from the 2024 Presidential Election on July 21, following a disastrous televised election debate. His poor performance led to increased calls for him to step down, with many Americans starting to worry about his mental capacity and ability to lead the country for another four years. In a letter on July 21, Biden announced he would not seek re-election, instead supporting Vice President Kamala Harris as the Democratic nominee.

Speaking to the media, Peskov noted that Harris has not had a significant impact on bilateral relations during her tenure as vice president, and said that he does not recall a single instance where Putin and Harris talked.

“At the moment, we cannot evaluate the potential candidacy of Ms. Harris in terms of our bilateral relations,” Peskov said, noting, however, that anything she has said has been “been full of rather unfriendly rhetoric.”

While Biden's withdrawal is notable, the Kremlin spokesman was keen to highlight that it is not a priority for Moscow, which is more focused on internal matters, such as achieving the goals of its “special military operation, against Ukraine. The Russian government, according to Peskov, is not particularly concerned with the outcomes of the US presidential race, which he believes should be the “preoccupation” of American voters.