The White House considers the planned meeting between US President Joe Biden and Russian President Vladimir Putin in Geneva both important and necessary, White House National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan said on Monday, adding that face-to-face talks are particularly important in Putin’s case.
Sullivan said that Biden was meeting with Putin not because of the differences between the two countries, but because of them.
“We do not see a meeting with the Russian president as a reward. We see it as an important part of protecting American interests and American values,” Sullivan said.
Before the summit, Biden will meet with G7 heads of state and government, NATO allies and European Union (EU) leaders.
“When President Biden returns to Washington next week, we believe we will be in a materially stronger position to deal with the biggest threats and challenges facing the country,” Sullivan said.
He also stressed that nothing in the heads of government’s relations could replace face-to-face talks, especially with Putin, who “has a very personalized style of decision-making.”
It is therefore important for Biden to meet Putin in person and to be able to articulate the US wishes clearly. Conversations face to face are also “the most effective way to understand what Russia has in mind and is planning,” Sullivan said.
A meeting between Putin and Biden is scheduled for June 16 in Geneva.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky told the US news site Axios on Friday that given Ukraine’s conflict and tensions with Russia, he would have liked Biden to have consulted him before meeting with Putin.
Sullivan said Biden and Zelensky had spoken on the phone on Monday. During the conversation, Biden emphasized that he was in favor of the territorial indivisibility of Ukraine and invited Zelenski to the White House.
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