US President Joe Biden and Russian leader Vladimir Putin to meet in Geneva on 16 June
SMA NEWS – WASHINGTON
US President Joe Biden will meet his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin for face-to-face talks in Geneva, Switzerland, on 16 June.
The Kremlin said in a statement the two leaders would discuss bilateral ties, problems related to strategic nuclear stability, and other issues including cooperation in the fight against COVID-19 and regional conflicts.
A statement from the White House said: “The leaders will discuss the full range of pressing issues, as we seek to restore predictability and stability to the US-Russia relationship.”
But the main focus will be to help tackle the troubled state of relations between Moscow and Washington, analysts said.
The meeting is being added on to the end of Mr Biden’s first international trip as president next month when he visits the UK for a G7 meeting and Brussels for a NATO summit.
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Mr Biden first proposed a summit with the Kremlin in April when the US prepared to levy sanctions against Russian officials for the second time during the first three months of his presidency.
The pair have met before, in March 2011, when then vice president Mr Biden was photographed smiling as he shook hands with then prime minister Mr Putin in Moscow.
