Russian President Vladimir Putin congratulates Biden, says ready for 'collaboration' 

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday sent U.S. President-elect Joe Biden a congratulatory telegram on his election victory, the Kremlin said in a statement. 

Putin had refused to congratulate Biden until the electoral college had gathered to confirm the result, and was the only major world leader not to do so. But according to Russia's state news agency Tass, the strongman president sent Biden a telegram Monday to offer his best wishes. 

Putin "expressed confidence that Russia and the United States, bearing special responsibility for global security and stability, can, despite their differences, really contribute to solving many problems and challenges that the world is currently facing," according to the statement.