Following a four-hour summit in Geneva between U.S. President Joe Biden and Russian President Vladimir Putin, Putin announced on Wednesday that he agreed with his American counterpart on the return of their ambassadors, adding that the timing of their return is "purely a procedural matter." In a press conference in Geneva, Putin stated that "the conversation was very constructive," adding that they "agreed to begin consultations on cybersecurity."
**No Visit Invitations**
He clarified that Biden did not extend an invitation for him to visit the White House, nor did he invite the U.S. President to visit the Kremlin. He announced that he discussed the crisis in Ukraine with Biden, indicating that Ukraine’s NATO membership is not open for discussion. He also added that the U.S. President committed to extending the START treaty for three years.
**"America Conducts Killings"**
However, the Russian president acknowledged existing disagreements with Washington on several issues, implicitly accusing America of carrying out killings in various regions of the world. While blaming Washington for strained U.S.-Russia relations, he did not rule out reaching an agreement with Washington regarding prisoner exchanges.
**"We Have Been Designated an Enemy State"**
He pointed out that Washington has announced support for opposition political groups in Russia, noting that the United States has designated Russia as an enemy state. Regarding accusations of Russia militarizing the Arctic, he stated, "Washington should not worry about Russian militarization of the strategic Arctic where Russia does not hide its ambitions." He added, "The American party's concerns about militarization are unfounded... on the contrary, I am convinced that we should cooperate."
The two presidents met on Wednesday at a luxurious villa in Geneva, where Biden confirmed that direct meetings are always better. He emphasized the importance of face-to-face meetings in an attempt to reduce tensions between the two countries. The two leaders arrived earlier in the day at Villa La Grange, where they were welcomed by Swiss President Guy Parmelin. The three exchanged greetings and handshakes, with the Swiss host underscoring his desire for constructive dialogue between the two presidents for the benefit of the world.
