Russian President Vladimir Putin said during a speech at the 24th St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF) that he and US President Joe Biden need to find ways to mend relations between Russia and the United States at the upcoming talks in Geneva.
“We will discuss matters concerning bilateral relations. I assume we need to try finding ways of mending the relations, which are at the lowest level as for now. We are all well aware of this fact”, Putin said.
Putin added that the two presidents will discuss strategic stability, settlement of international conflicts, as well as countering terrorism.
“The pandemic, the way we fight the pandemic and environmental issues are all parts of the agenda”, the Russian president concluded.
In late May, Moscow and Washington confirmed that Presidents Vladimir Putin and Joe Biden will meet for a summit in Geneva on 16 June. According to a White House statement, the two presidents will focus on the most important issues concerning bilateral relations.
In March, Joe Biden's affirmative answer to a reporter's question on whether he considered Putin a "killer" fuelled tensions between the two countries. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov described Biden's words about Putin as "outrageous, unprecedented rhetoric".
