Daily Beast: “With Joe Biden declared America’s newest president-elect, darkness descended over Russian state media this week. Pro-Kremlin news anchors, pundits and experts have long dreaded former Vice President Joe Biden’s victory in 2020, having described it as ‘the worst scenario for Russia.’ As their nightmare became an inevitable reality, Russian state television shows were permeated with angry faces and raw emotions.”
“‘Nothing will ever be the same… What are we witnessing? What is the world coming to? Not only this country, but the world?’ mournfully asked Evgeny Popov, the host of Russian state media show 60 Minutes. Panelists in the studio grimly outlined the bevy of consequences Biden’s presidency may mean for the Kremlin. Lawmaker Leonid Kalashnikov, who admittedly celebrated Trump’s victory in 2016, said: ‘Unfortunately, Trump lost.’ Pontificating about what Biden’s presidency will mean for Russia, Kalashnikov surmised: ‘Understandably, I have nothing to be happy about… All of us should be thinking: ‘What is Russia supposed to do now?’ Get ready to be disconnected from SWIFT [international banking payment system]? That Europe will line up along with their sanctions?’ He warned fellow Russians about the wave of incoming consequences: ‘Trump lost, so it’s time to get ready … They will start fighting against us like they do in the Middle East.'”