Vladimir Putin Is Still Refusing To Recognise Joe Biden As Winner Of 2020 US Election

It's been nearly three weeks since the US Election took place and many are looking towards January for when Joe Biden will assume the White House.

The Democratic candidate has been congratulated by the leaders of many countries, despite Donald Trump's refusal to concede defeat.

However, one world leader is still waiting for a 'legitimate' result.

Russian President Vladimir Putin believes it's still too early to offer a congratulatory message to President-elect Joe Biden and he's waiting until either Trump concedes or the vote counting has finished.

Speaking over the weekend, Putin said: "We will work with anyone who has the confidence of the American people.

"But that confidence can only be given to a candidate whose victory has been recognised by the opposing party, or after the results are confirmed in a legitimate, legal way."

He said this refusal to send a 'congrats xoxo' text to Biden is merely a formality and that there was nothing nefarious lurking behind the pause.

This statement is in keeping with a similar sentiment that was issued one week after the November 3 vote.

"We think it appropriate to wait for the official vote count," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said at the time.

That message was shared by China, with the country's foreign ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin adding: "We noticed that Mr Biden has declared election victory. We understand that the US presidential election result will be determined following US law and procedures."

Admittedly, there were more balls in the air, so to speak, then than there are now.

Even China has now congratulated Joe Biden for winning the ballot.

Wang Wenbin said during a press conference: "We respect the choice of the American people. We extend congratulations to Mr Biden and Ms Harris. We understand the results of the US election will be determined according to US laws and procedures."

Interestingly, China's President Xi Jinping personally reached out to Donald Trump in 2016 after he won the election over Hillary Clinton and he did it the day after the election was finished.

Donald Trump's refusal to concede defeat continued over the weekend as he told world leaders that he looks forward to working with them.

According to audio of his comments obtained by the Observer, the current US President told leaders at the G20 summit that: "It's been a great honour to work with you, and I look forward to working with you again for a long time."

Trump skipped one of the meetings at the summit to play golf. What was the meeting about, you ask? Only just 'Pandemic Preparedness'.