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Joe Biden heads to Geneva for summit with ‘worthy adversary’ Putin – live Joe Biden heads to Geneva for summit with ‘worthy adversary’ Putin – live
(32 minutes later)
Reports say Biden has prepared extensively for Geneva meeting on Wednesday – follow all the day’s politics liveReports say Biden has prepared extensively for Geneva meeting on Wednesday – follow all the day’s politics live
The mayor of Washington, Muriel Bowser, is also encouraging Americans to celebrate Independence Day in the nation’s capitol.
“DC is open and ready to welcome back visitors to celebrate the way we came together as a city and as a nation this year. We have shown once again that when we come together, there is nothing we can’t do,” the Democratic mayor said in a press release.
In addition to the traditional fireworks show and the celebrations hosted by the White House this year, DC is also marking the return of July 4 parades in the Barracks Row and Palisades neighborhoods.
“We thank President Biden and his team for acting with urgency to get the vaccine to the American people so that we could save lives, get our country open, and celebrate together once again,” Bowser said.
Joe Biden wants Americans to celebrate their independence from coronavirus next month, when the country commemorates its independence day on July 4.
Biden has set a goal of at least partially vaccinating 70% of American adults by July 4, and he is already planning how to celebrate, even though it’s unclear whether the US will meet that objective.
The AP reports:
Delivering an update on vaccine distribution earlier this month, Biden encouraged Americans to get vaccinated and convince family members to join them before the July 4 holiday.
“We know it for a fact: Americans could do anything when we do it together. So, please, do your part,” Biden said. “Give it your all through July the 4th. Let’s reach our 70% goal. Let’s go into the summer freer and safer. Let’s celebrate a truly historic Independence Day.”
China’s mission to the EU has accused Nato of slander and of “hyping up the so-called ‘China threat’” after leaders of the western alliance warned that the country presents “systemic challenges” to international order and security.China’s mission to the EU has accused Nato of slander and of “hyping up the so-called ‘China threat’” after leaders of the western alliance warned that the country presents “systemic challenges” to international order and security.
On Monday, at a summit in Brussels, leaders from the transatlantic security alliance, with Joe Biden in attendance for the first time, took a forceful stance towards Beijing.On Monday, at a summit in Brussels, leaders from the transatlantic security alliance, with Joe Biden in attendance for the first time, took a forceful stance towards Beijing.
The new US president has urged his fellow Nato leaders to stand up to China’s authoritarianism and growing military might – a change of focus for an alliance created to defend Europe from the Soviet Union during the cold war.The new US president has urged his fellow Nato leaders to stand up to China’s authoritarianism and growing military might – a change of focus for an alliance created to defend Europe from the Soviet Union during the cold war.
China’s EU mission hit back on Tuesday, saying in a post on its website that the communique published at the end of the one-day summit “slandered” China’s peaceful development, misjudged the international situation, and indicated a “cold war mentality”.China’s EU mission hit back on Tuesday, saying in a post on its website that the communique published at the end of the one-day summit “slandered” China’s peaceful development, misjudged the international situation, and indicated a “cold war mentality”.
“China urges Nato to view China’s development in a rational manner, stop hyping up in any form the so-called ‘China threat’, and stop taking China’s legitimate interests and rights as an excuse to manipulate bloc politics, create confrontation, and fuel geopolitical competition.”“China urges Nato to view China’s development in a rational manner, stop hyping up in any form the so-called ‘China threat’, and stop taking China’s legitimate interests and rights as an excuse to manipulate bloc politics, create confrontation, and fuel geopolitical competition.”
Joe Biden has boarded Air Force One and is officially en route to Geneva, Switzerland, where he will meet with Russian president Vladimir Putin tomorrow.Joe Biden has boarded Air Force One and is officially en route to Geneva, Switzerland, where he will meet with Russian president Vladimir Putin tomorrow.
The city of Geneva has put up American and Russian flags along their bridges to commemorate the historic summit between the two countries’ leaders. A CNBC reporter captured a photo of the scene:The city of Geneva has put up American and Russian flags along their bridges to commemorate the historic summit between the two countries’ leaders. A CNBC reporter captured a photo of the scene:
On the 24-hour Russian state news channel, Thursday began as any other might: with a segment about the ageing president of the United States battling back cicadas and then giving a “confused” speech about his upcoming summit in Geneva with Vladimir Putin.On the 24-hour Russian state news channel, Thursday began as any other might: with a segment about the ageing president of the United States battling back cicadas and then giving a “confused” speech about his upcoming summit in Geneva with Vladimir Putin.
“I’ll let [Putin] know what I want him to know,’” said Joe Biden after a cutaway shot of him swatting his neck before boarding Air Force One this week.“I’ll let [Putin] know what I want him to know,’” said Joe Biden after a cutaway shot of him swatting his neck before boarding Air Force One this week.
Signs of a thaw between Russia and the US ahead of Wednesday’s summit are not immediately evident on state TV, but then again that is the last place that they would be.Signs of a thaw between Russia and the US ahead of Wednesday’s summit are not immediately evident on state TV, but then again that is the last place that they would be.
For years, bellicose news segments about the west and especially Ukraine have been outdone only by the even shoutier news debate shows, where Russian experts compete to give the loudest, most hawkish review of recent political developments. The rare liberals who join them are ritually squashed.For years, bellicose news segments about the west and especially Ukraine have been outdone only by the even shoutier news debate shows, where Russian experts compete to give the loudest, most hawkish review of recent political developments. The rare liberals who join them are ritually squashed.
In the real world, the last week has given little inkling of a coming breakthrough. A Russian court’s decision on Thursday evening to outlaw Alexei Navalny’s organisation as “extremist” will reassert the issue of human rights in Russia on the summit’s agenda. And Russia’s backing for Alexander Lukashenko will also lead to a battle over what Moscow claims as a sphere of influence in Belarus and Ukraine, despite the breakup of the Soviet Union more than 30 years ago.In the real world, the last week has given little inkling of a coming breakthrough. A Russian court’s decision on Thursday evening to outlaw Alexei Navalny’s organisation as “extremist” will reassert the issue of human rights in Russia on the summit’s agenda. And Russia’s backing for Alexander Lukashenko will also lead to a battle over what Moscow claims as a sphere of influence in Belarus and Ukraine, despite the breakup of the Soviet Union more than 30 years ago.
Greetings from Washington, live blog readers.Greetings from Washington, live blog readers.
Joe Biden continues his first international trip as president today, attending the EU-US summit in Brussels. The US president also met with the king and prime minister of Belgium this morning.Joe Biden continues his first international trip as president today, attending the EU-US summit in Brussels. The US president also met with the king and prime minister of Belgium this morning.
Biden will soon depart for Geneva, where he will hold a summit with Russian president Vladimir Putin tomorrow.Biden will soon depart for Geneva, where he will hold a summit with Russian president Vladimir Putin tomorrow.
Reports indicate that Biden has been preparing extensively for the summit, which will mark his first in-person meeting with Putin since taking office in January.Reports indicate that Biden has been preparing extensively for the summit, which will mark his first in-person meeting with Putin since taking office in January.
The president’s advisers have also indicated that he sought input from other major foreign leaders about how he should approach the meeting, as he attended the G7 and Nato summits this past week.The president’s advisers have also indicated that he sought input from other major foreign leaders about how he should approach the meeting, as he attended the G7 and Nato summits this past week.
During his press conference in Brussels yesterday, Biden repeatedly deflected questions from reporters about what he expected to get out of the meeting.During his press conference in Brussels yesterday, Biden repeatedly deflected questions from reporters about what he expected to get out of the meeting.
Noting he has met Putin before, Biden said of the Russian leader, “He’s bright. He’s tough. And I have found that he is a … as they say, when you used to play ball, ‘a worthy adversary.’”Noting he has met Putin before, Biden said of the Russian leader, “He’s bright. He’s tough. And I have found that he is a … as they say, when you used to play ball, ‘a worthy adversary.’”
Biden added, “But the fact is that I will be happy to talk with you when it’s over, and not before, about what the discussion will entail.”Biden added, “But the fact is that I will be happy to talk with you when it’s over, and not before, about what the discussion will entail.”
The blog will have more details on Wednesday’s summit coming up, so stay tuned.The blog will have more details on Wednesday’s summit coming up, so stay tuned.