President Biden and Russian President Vladimir Putin wrapped up talks in Geneva on Wednesday. Both leaders had positive things to say about the meeting, but the tensions between the US and Russia were on display during press conferences that followed.
World leaders typically hold joint press conferences after summits, but Biden and Putin spoke to the media on their own. Putin spoke with reporters first and described the meeting as “constructive.”
“There has been no hostility,” Putin said. “On the contrary, our meeting took place in a constructive spirit.” At the same time, Putin made it clear that Moscow blames US hostility for the sorry state of US-Russia relations.
Asked if US-Russia relations have hit rock bottom, Putin Said, “It’s hard to say at the moment because all steps in regard to the deterioration in the Russian-American relations were not initiated by us and they were taken by the American side.”
One constructive agreement Putin said he reached with Biden was to return ambassadors to the other nation’s capital. Russia recalled its US ambassador in March, after an interview aired where Biden said Putin is a “killer” who has “no soul.” In April, the US ambassador to Russia headed back to Washington after the US imposed fresh sanctions on Moscow and expelled Russian diplomats.
“As for the return of ambassadors to their places of work — of the US ambassador to Moscow, and, respectively, of the Russian to Washington, we agreed that this issue is resolved,” Putin said in Geneva.
During his press conference, Biden portrayed the meeting as a necessary step for the “self-interest” of the US. “It was important to meet in person so there could be no mistake about or misrepresentations about what I wanted to communicate. I did what I came to do,” he said. “This is not about trust. This is about self-interest and verification of self-interest.”
Biden repeated the typical talking points about Russia’s alleged human rights violations and warned of “devastating” consequences if opposition figure Alexei Navalny were to die in prison. “I made it clear to him that I believed the consequences of that would be devastating for Russia,” Biden said.
Putin and Biden released a joint statement on “strategic stability” that discussed arms control between the two powers. The statement reads: “The recent extension of the New START Treaty exemplifies our commitment to nuclear arms control. Today, we reaffirm the principle that a nuclear war cannot be won and must never be fought.”
Putin said he and Biden agreed to begin negotiations on the replacement of New START, which will expire in 2026. The joint statement said the US and Russia agreed to begin nuclear talks in the “near future.”
Biden suggested future talks on “major strategic stability” but sounded less certain than Putin. He said the next few months will serve as a “test” to see if US-Russia relations could improve.
“What is going to happen next? We’re going to be able to look back, look ahead, in three to six months and say, did the things we agreed to sit down and work out, did it work? Do we — are we closer to a major strategic stability talks and progress?” Biden said.
While Biden portrays Russia as the party that needs to take steps for better relations, the reality is, the US has been the aggressor. The question is if the US will back off Russia and take steps towards arms control.
Biden said neither country has an interest in a “Cold War” and suggested Moscow might want better relations with the US because of China. “Russia is in a very, very difficult spot right now. They are being squeezed by China. They want desperately to remain a major power,” he said.
Some of my milblogs say the US is desperate to halt Russia’s progress with ABM missiles. They claim that Bush-the-dumber’s withdrawal from the ABM treaty has turned into a disaster for the US, for Russia has created functional weapons since then and the US has failed.
“Biden repeated the typical talking points about Russia’s alleged human rights violations…” Indeed, but interrupted only by: “…We haven’t lived up to it completely, but we’ve always widened the arc of commitment and included more and more people.”
We included more and more people? Like when we bombed Korea, Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, Iraq, Libya, Syria, and Yemen? We included the children in cages at the border? Also, over 2 million Americans in subhuman jails? If he had any self awareness, he would have said: “…We haven’t lived up to it.” Period, full stop!
See: https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/speeches-remarks/2021/06/16/remarks-by-president-biden-in-press-conference-4/
This from CNN:
“Putin gave no indication that the two leaders’ first face-to-face meeting on Wednesday had compelled a change of heart. No number of friendly words, it seems, will stop the Russian leader from continuing to forcefully pursue his political agenda both at home in Russia and abroad with near total impunity.”
This was typical. And “near total impunity”? Sanctions, selling lethal weapons to Ukraine and carrying out multiple war games on Russia’s borders seems like “punishment or detrimental effects” to me.
Interesting self-delusion. Russia is in a tight spot because of strong China? This statement is aimed at Russian public — be afraid of China, be very afraid! We are here to give you way out!
Unfortunately, the long and proven history of Western aggression, the never ending attempts to conquer Russia and get some “elbow room”, are well known to Russians. Especially, the recent history, the building of “case” against Russia on lies upon lies — woke Russians up to abandon any illusion about well meaning West.
The strategy is curious. It is based on an assessment that Russia is feeling pressure from stronger China. This reasoning is logical in the light of Western hierarchical reasoning. The relationship of Western allies is based on their relative strength, and it is a normal state of affairs that the stronger reminds weaker as to who is the boss, If you assume that Russia is in tight spot, then logically Russia has little leverage. West then proceeded building the case of bad Russia in order to diminish whatever leverage it may have. Now, expectations are — Russia has to cave in (at least publicly), while sweeteners and assurances are given behind the scene.
The elite in US that is determined to push military solutions to global dominance demand unyielding public posture.
Russia and China have no interest in ratcheting up tensions, but will guard core interests.
And advance the concept of regional security solutions. Regional security concept has been demonstrated in collaboration of Iran, Turkey, Syria, Iraq and Russia in ending ISIS quasi-state and Kurdish pretensions in autonomy in Syria and Iraq. Another example is Azerbaijan-Armenian war. And bringing parties to ending war in Libya was the result of Egyptian and Turkish cooperation. Russia enabled the process. We can already sense the contours of Afghanistan post-occupation regional integration. A beginning of a new opening in Israel-Palestinian conflict is shaping up in Gaza via Egyptian intervention. Any intervention there has a potential to exacerbate US domestic tensions and complicate foreign relations.
With all in mind — isn’t Russia for a change holding a stronger hand?
Let’s hope that Mr Putin heeds the warning re. Navalny, a man who will now be recognised as a Western puppet. Another man who used to move among the “elite” in the US ended up “committing suicide” in an impossible manner. The way the FBI and the DoJ behaved around the time are well known, and would have put the old KGB to shame. His erstwhile partner in crime languishes in jail now in a cell filled with raw sewage. What chance is there of her being properly tried in a legitimate Court of Law.