President Joe Biden will meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin in person for the first time since taking office in January.
In a statement released on Tuesday, White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki announced the meeting.
“President Biden will meet with President Putin in Geneva, Switzerland on June 16, 2021. The leaders will discuss the full range of pressing issues, as we seek to restore predictability and stability to the U.S.-Russia relationship,” the statement reads.
Biden has not held back on his warnings to Russia over its “malign” actions such as cyber-hacking, and alleged election interference, as IJR previously reported.
“I was clear with President Putin that we could have gone further, but I chose not to do so — I chose to be proportionate. The United States is not looking to kick off a cycle of escalation and conflict with Russia. We want a stable, predictable relationship,” Biden said while delivering remarks from the White House last month.
He added, “If Russia continues to interfere with our democracy, I’m prepared to take further actions to respond. It is my responsibility to do so.”
The Biden administration imposed sanctions on Russia for its alleged interference in the 2020 election, SolarWinds cyberattack and “ongoing occupation and ‘severe human rights abuses’ in Crimea,” as CNN reported.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov announced the country would be expelling 10 American diplomats in response to the sanctions.
“The Biden administration has been clear that the United States desires a relationship with Russia that is stable and predictable. We do not think that we need to continue on a negative trajectory,” Biden’s executive order said.
It added, “However, we have also been clear — publicly and privately — that we will defend our national interests and impose costs for Russian Government actions that seek to harm us.”
