Russian President Vladimir Putin, during a meeting with US President Joe Biden in Geneva in 2021, gave him a $12,000 pen and writing set. This was his most expensive gift of that year, according to a State Department Protocol Office report.
According to the document (.pdf), Mr. Putin presented his American colleague with “a miniature lacquer writing set and a pen.” The State Department said that not accepting the gift “would embarrass the donor and the US government.”
The talks between the Presidents of Russia and the United States were held on June 16, 2021 at Villa La Grange in Geneva. The meeting took about four hours. It was reported that Mr. Biden presented the Russian president with a crystal figurine of an American bison and aviator glasses. Following the talks, they adopted a statement on strategic arms control, but did not hold a joint press conference. The US White House allowed a new meeting of the leaders of the two countries only with a de-escalation of the situation in Ukraine.
On February 21, Vladimir Putin, during the announcement of the message to the Federal Assembly, announced the decision to suspend Russia’s participation in the Strategic Offensive Arms Treaty (START). The next day, the State Duma and the Federation Council approved the relevant draft law. Joe Biden called Moscow’s decision a mistake. NATO and the UN called on Russia to return to the implementation of the START.
Details – in the material “Kommersant” “The nuclear treaty was suspended without objection.”
