Putin and Biden Agree to Hold Summit This Summer

Biden has significantly escalated tensions with Moscow through hostile rhetoric, sanctions, and support for Ukraine

On Monday, the Kremlin said Russian President Vladimir Putin will meet with President Biden sometime this summer, although a date has not been set. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov also said a location for the summit has not been determined.

President Biden proposed an in-person meeting with Putin in a phone call earlier this month. After the call, Biden escalated tensions with Moscow by imposing a wide array of sanctions on Russian officials and entities and expelling Russian diplomats.

Besides the sanctions, President Biden has strained ties with Russia by using incredibly hostile rhetoric. In an interview last month, Biden agreed that Putin is a “killer” who has “no soul.”

Tensions have also been high between the two nuclear powers over Ukraine. In recent weeks, US officials have hyped the movement of Russian troops near Ukraine’s border and have reaffirmed their “unwavering support” for Kyiv. Amid the tensions, the US has delivered multiple shipments of military equipment to Ukraine.

President Biden has said that despite the tensions, the two countries can work together in certain areas, such as arms control. But besides agreeing to extend the vital nuclear treaty New START, the Biden administration has made no progress towards new arms control treaties with Moscow.

Author: Dave DeCamp

Dave DeCamp is the news editor of Antiwar.com, follow him on Twitter @decampdave.