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| ‘I hope our meeting will be productive’: Putin & Biden share handshake, photo-op and optimistic words before high-stakes summit | ‘I hope our meeting will be productive’: Putin & Biden share handshake, photo-op and optimistic words before high-stakes summit |
| (2 months later) | |
| Russian President Vladimir Putin and his American counterpart Joe Biden have exchanged a handshake and pleasantries before their landmark summit in the Swiss city of Geneva, their first meeting since Biden's January inauguration. | Russian President Vladimir Putin and his American counterpart Joe Biden have exchanged a handshake and pleasantries before their landmark summit in the Swiss city of Geneva, their first meeting since Biden's January inauguration. |
| The two heads of state were met by Swiss President Guy Parmelin at Villa La Grange, a historic 18th-century villa with a beautiful view of Lake Geneva. Parmelin made a short speech, in French, to welcome his guests. Both leaders listened as the opening remarks were translated into Russian and then English. | The two heads of state were met by Swiss President Guy Parmelin at Villa La Grange, a historic 18th-century villa with a beautiful view of Lake Geneva. Parmelin made a short speech, in French, to welcome his guests. Both leaders listened as the opening remarks were translated into Russian and then English. |
| “I would like to welcome you to Geneva, the city of peace. It is an honor and a pleasure for Switzerland to host you here for the summit, and in accordance with its tradition of good offices, promote dialogue and mutual understanding,” Parmelin said. | “I would like to welcome you to Geneva, the city of peace. It is an honor and a pleasure for Switzerland to host you here for the summit, and in accordance with its tradition of good offices, promote dialogue and mutual understanding,” Parmelin said. |
| “I wish you both presidents a fruitful dialogue in the interest of your two countries and the world. Best wishes and goodbye,” he concluded. | “I wish you both presidents a fruitful dialogue in the interest of your two countries and the world. Best wishes and goodbye,” he concluded. |
| Putin and Biden then came together and posed for a photo while shaking hands, before walking inside the villa and taking a seat in the library, the location of the two presidents' first meeting, alongside Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and US Secretary of State Antony Blinken. | Putin and Biden then came together and posed for a photo while shaking hands, before walking inside the villa and taking a seat in the library, the location of the two presidents' first meeting, alongside Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and US Secretary of State Antony Blinken. |
| Before the meeting began, both Putin and Biden exchanged public pleasantries. | Before the meeting began, both Putin and Biden exchanged public pleasantries. |
| “I'd like to thank you for your initiative to meet today,” Putin said. “Russia and US relations have a lot of issues accumulated that require the highest level meeting, and I hope that our meeting will be productive.” | “I'd like to thank you for your initiative to meet today,” Putin said. “Russia and US relations have a lot of issues accumulated that require the highest level meeting, and I hope that our meeting will be productive.” |
| In response, Biden agreed, noting “it's always better to meet face-to-face.” | In response, Biden agreed, noting “it's always better to meet face-to-face.” |
| After the comments, journalists were ushered out of the room, and private discussions began. | After the comments, journalists were ushered out of the room, and private discussions began. |
| The two leaders are due to discuss a wide range of topics, including the Covid-19 pandemic, the war in Eastern Ukraine, and the fight against cybercrime. They will also discuss other areas for cooperation, such as climate change, the Arctic, and the Middle East. | The two leaders are due to discuss a wide range of topics, including the Covid-19 pandemic, the war in Eastern Ukraine, and the fight against cybercrime. They will also discuss other areas for cooperation, such as climate change, the Arctic, and the Middle East. |
| If you like this story, share it with a friend! | If you like this story, share it with a friend! |
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