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The only thing I care about is not getting nuked while I'm cooking my dinner. This meeting has me on edge.
@darkness. I loved that
President Biden and President Vladimir Putin of Russia finished their first in-person summit in Geneva, Switzerland. Both sides confirmed that there is no hostility, with each President offering broad and general words of understanding. However, in discussing pertinent issues, the two countries remain divided. Following their conversation, each President had a separate news conference.
The most constructive and tangible successes that came from the summit relate to Putin’s tolerance in even discussing issues. The two Presidents have agreed to hold talks on arms control and cybersecurity, and each agreed to return their respective ambassadors to their posts. Biden and Putin emerged with a joint statement on shared goals for stability, predictability, and nuclear arms control. Biden said that he gave Putin a list of 16 critical pieces of infrastructure that are out of bounds during times of peace, warning that misconduct would result in retaliation from the U.S. Thankfully, neither side experienced threats from the other, nor were there talks of military intervention. According to Biden, the general tone of the meeting was positive.
With that said, there remain issues that the two sides are at odds over. Putin denied all involvement with cyberattacks on the United States and deflected questions regarding human rights and free and fair elections. Putin, without naming Alexei Navalny, stood behind the imprisonment of his opposition and would not guarantee his survival in prison. With regard to human rights more broadly, Putin cited BLM protestors and the Capitol insurrection as reasons he needs to maintain tight control over Russia, regardless of human rights.
There is no guarantee that the U.S. and Russia will make progress on fundamental issues, but with the lack of substantial dialogue in recent years, the promises coming from today’s summit are significant.