US President Joe Biden is all set to meet his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin in Geneva on Wednesday. According to CNBC, both sides are likely to discuss various issues, including cyberattacks on American companies and other infrastructure, the annexation of Crimea, climate change and Alexis Navalny’s arrest.
White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki confirmed that Biden and Putin would discuss cyberattacks during the one-on-one. According to BBC, President Putin has expressed an interest in discussing issues like the nuclear arms control treaty, climate change, and the ongoing conflicts in Syria and Libya. The Kremlin, while confirming the summit, said, “We intend to discuss the state and prospects of further development of Russia-American relations, problems of strategic stability, as well as topical issues on the international agenda, including interaction in the fight against the coronavirus pandemic and settlement of regional conflicts.”
President Putin has offered “to exchange cybercriminals” with the US, according to UPI. Putin said, “If we agree on extradition of criminals, then Russia will naturally do that but only if the other side, in this case, the United States agrees to the same and will also extradite corresponding criminals to the Russian Federation.” The proposal was put forth after American companies and organisations were constantly targeted by cybercriminals operating from Russia.
Biden, during a press conference at G7 Summit, appreciated the offer but didn’t accept it. National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan later stepped in to clarify the facts and stated, “He’s (Biden) not saying he’s going to be exchanging criminals with Russia. There are no cybercriminals who have committed crimes in Russia that he’s looking at and thinking, ‘I’m going to exchange them’.” Biden called on Russia to hold cybercriminals accountable and not save them from justice. Earlier this month, a group of hackers with links to Russia staged an attack on a US company, eventually forcing it to close its operations, disrupting fuel supply and leading to a gasoline shortage. Biden also imposed sanctions on at least 30 individuals and entities from Russia earlier this year for allegedly meddling in the 2016 and 2020 Presidential elections.
Also Read: US, Russian Security Chiefs Hold Talks in Geneva, Discuss Upcoming Biden-Putin Summit
The leaders are looking forward to an amicable meeting, and the US hopes to establish a “stable and predictable” relationship, even as both sides continue to accuse each other of various crimes. Russia does not think of the US as a friendly nation, and both countries have avoided appointing an ambassador. The US has accused Russia of cyberattacks and attempts to meddle in elections countless times, while Russia has accused US marines of espionage. The US has also voiced strong opposition to Russia’s treatment of opposition leader Alexei Navalny and its moves to curb dissent and freedom of expression. The annexation of Crimea by Russia is another point of contention between the two countries.
According to BBC, stature and symbolism could be probable reasons behind the Putin-Biden summit. Andrei Kortunov, a director of a think-tank based in Moscow, says, “the summit is important in terms of symbolism; it puts Russia in the same league as the US, and for Putin symbolism is not unimportant.”
This highly anticipated summit might define the future diplomatic relations of both countries. Amidst animosities, both leaders have several issues to discuss, like Ukraine, human rights abuses in Russia, cyberattacks originating from Russia, and meddling in US elections.