Biden and Putin agree to negotiate
Presidents Joe Biden and Vladimir Putin agreed on Wednesday to hold talks on arms control and cyber-security.
-
Russian President Vladimir Putin during a press conference in Geneva
Russian President Vladimir Putin held a news conference after wrapping up a summit with US President Joe Biden.
The conversations were "productive," according to Putin, who said he left with a generally favorable view of Biden.
Talks between the leaders of Russia and the United States started in Geneva https://t.co/a9x4qrlSIn pic.twitter.com/tYMxQmmqwQ
— President of Russia (@KremlinRussia_E) June 16, 2021
"He's a well-balanced and professional man with a lot of experience," Putin added. "It appears that we were speaking the same rhetoric.”
US, Russia to begin negotiations on cybersecurity
Russian President Vladimir Putin announced that the two countries would begin negotiations on cybersecurity.
“There are certain commitments that both parties must accept,” Putin stated.
“We believe that cyberspace is really significant. Putin stated, "In general, and in particular for the US, and to the same degree for Russia."
Regarding Ukraine, the Russian president said that “we are ready to follow the path of the Minsk Agreement," noting what the Ukrainian government is proposing “completely contradicts what is stated in this agreement”.
Putin: "Political leaders are responsible"
He added, "the United States declared Russia its enemy, as did the Congress in 2017," he asked, "What organizations does Washington support in Russia," if the US administration declared his country an enemy?
If Russia is an enemy of the United States, then the American-backed organizations in Russia will be hostile to Moscow," Putin added.
He stressed that everything that is happening in the US and Russia is the responsibility of political leaders.
Arctic file and mutual cooperation
Turning to the Arctic file, he said, "I spoke with Biden about the Arctic file. The US concern about the militarization of that region is unjustified," stressing "I am confident that we can cooperate with regard to this file."
Who is to blame for the deaths of Afghan civilians? "Where are the laws that regulate the Western camp?" asked Putin.
Biden: Washington will not tolerate any interference
On his part, US President Joe Biden called the tone of his meetings with Putin "positive", but he warned his Russian counterpart that Washington "will not tolerate" any interference in the US elections.
"I made it clear that we will not tolerate attempts to violate our democratic sovereignty or destabilize our democratic elections, and we would respond," he said.
Who's really in charge? Joe Biden admits: "They gave me a list of the people I'm going to call on." pic.twitter.com/eWFzk2gyXR
— MRCTV (@mrctv) June 16, 2021
The summit meeting between US President Joe Biden and Russian President Vladimir Putin in Geneva ended today, with the conclusion of an extended bilateral discussion that included top aides, according to a White House official, adding that there was only one enlarged bilateral discussion.
