GENEVA: US President Joe Biden and Russian President Vladimir Putin are set to hold their June 16 summit in an 18th-century Swiss villa overlooking Lake Geneva, a soothing setting for what promises to be heated talks.
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Bitter disputes over election interference, cyberattacks, human rights and Ukraine hang over their first face-to-face meeting since Biden took office on Jan 20. Strategic nuclear stability and regional conflicts will be on the table. Biden has said he would press Putin to respect human rights.
Putin said last Friday he expected the talks to be held in a positive atmosphere, though he anticipated no breakthrough.
Despite “destructive noise” by both sides, a mutual objective has emerged to put their relationship “on a more predictable and stable basis”, said Robert Legvold, professor emeritus at Colombia University and a Russia expert.
