Biden, Putin Differ on Human Rights, Cybersecurity
2021-06-17
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1American President Joe Biden and Russian President Vladimir Putin met Wednesday in Geneva, Switzerland.
2The leaders agreed to improve diplomatic relations between their two countries and to hold arms control talks.
3They differed widely on many other issues including human rights and cybersecurity.
4The discussions lasted about three hours.
5When it was over, the two leaders spoke separately with international media.
6President Putin told reporters that there was "no hostility" and called the meeting "constructive."
7He described the U.S. president as "balanced" and "very experienced."
8President Biden also praised the meeting as "positive" when he spoke to reporters later.
9He said he told President Putin "we need some basic rules of the road" that all can honor.
10"I did what I came to do," Biden said.
11Both men agreed to return their ambassadors to their embassies in each country.
12The U.S. and Russia had withdrawn their top diplomats as tensions rose in recent months.
13The two presidents agreed that Russia and the United States shared responsibility for nuclear stability.
14They said the two would hold talks on possible changes to their recently extended New START arms limitation treaty.
15The leaders issued a joint statement saying that they made progress on "reducing the risk of armed conflicts and the threat of nuclear war."
16Biden said they spent a "great deal of time" discussing cybersecurity also.
17The U.S. president said he gave Putin a list of 16 "critical infrastructure," including energy and water systems, that are considered off limits to criminal activities.
18U.S. intelligence groups report that recent cyberattacks on pipeline operations and the meat processing industry were launched from Russia.
19Putin has said repeatedly his country had nothing to do with such attacks.
20He also said Russia had been the target of several cyberattacks launched from inside the U.S.
21The two sides did agree to begin talks on cybersecurity issues.
22President Biden said he told Putin that "human rights is always going to be on the table."
23Biden said "I pointed out to him, that's why we are going to raise our concerns about cases, like Alexei Navalny. I made it clear to President Putin, and will continue to raise issues of fundamental human rights, because that's what we are. That's who we are."
24Biden said he would continue to follow up with Russia on the situation of Americans Trevor Reed and Paul Whalen, who are imprisoned in Russia.
25He also warned of severe results for Russia if jailed opposition leader Navalny dies.
26Without mentioning Navalny's name, Putin said, "This man knew that he was breaking the law of Russia. He has been twice convicted."
27He said Navalny had ignored the law and had known what would happen if he returned to Russia from Germany.
28Navalny had been sent to a hospital there after he was poisoned.
29The opposition leader came close to death.
30Putin then raised questions about unrest in the U.S. including the Black Lives Matter protests and the January 6 attack at the Capitol building.
31Biden said he had told Putin that he was "not against Russia", but "for the American people."
32He said he believes U.S.-Russia relations can improve without dishonoring American values.
33As for Putin, he said it was "hard to say" if relations with the U.S. would improve.
34I'm Caty Weaver.
1American President Joe Biden and Russian President Vladimir Putin met Wednesday in Geneva, Switzerland. 2The leaders agreed to improve diplomatic relations between their two countries and to hold arms control talks. They differed widely on many other issues including human rights and cybersecurity. 3The discussions lasted about three hours. When it was over, the two leaders spoke separately with international media. 4President Putin told reporters that there was "no hostility" and called the meeting "constructive." He described the U.S. president as "balanced" and "very experienced." 5President Biden also praised the meeting as "positive" when he spoke to reporters later. He said he told President Putin "we need some basic rules of the road" that all can honor. 6"I did what I came to do," Biden said. 7Areas of agreement 8Both men agreed to return their ambassadors to their embassies in each country. The U.S. and Russia had withdrawn their top diplomats as tensions rose in recent months. 9The two presidents agreed that Russia and the United States shared responsibility for nuclear stability. They said the two would hold talks on possible changes to their recently extended New START arms limitation treaty. 10The leaders issued a joint statement saying that they made progress on "reducing the risk of armed conflicts and the threat of nuclear war." 11Cyberattacks 12Biden said they spent a "great deal of time" discussing cybersecurity also. The U.S. president said he gave Putin a list of 16 "critical infrastructure," including energy and water systems, that are considered off limits to criminal activities. 13U.S. intelligence groups report that recent cyberattacks on pipeline operations and the meat processing industry were launched from Russia. 14Putin has said repeatedly his country had nothing to do with such attacks. He also said Russia had been the target of several cyberattacks launched from inside the U.S. 15The two sides did agree to begin talks on cybersecurity issues. 16Human rights 17President Biden said he told Putin that "human rights is always going to be on the table." Biden said "I pointed out to him, that's why we are going to raise our concerns about cases, like Alexei Navalny. I made it clear to President Putin, and will continue to raise issues of fundamental human rights, because that's what we are. That's who we are." 18Biden said he would continue to follow up with Russia on the situation of Americans Trevor Reed and Paul Whalen, who are imprisoned in Russia. He also warned of severe results for Russia if jailed opposition leader Navalny dies. 19Without mentioning Navalny's name, Putin said, "This man knew that he was breaking the law of Russia. He has been twice convicted." He said Navalny had ignored the law and had known what would happen if he returned to Russia from Germany. Navalny had been sent to a hospital there after he was poisoned. The opposition leader came close to death. 20Putin then raised questions about unrest in the U.S. including the Black Lives Matter protests and the January 6 attack at the Capitol building. 21What about the future 22Biden said he had told Putin that he was "not against Russia", but "for the American people." He said he believes U.S.-Russia relations can improve without dishonoring American values. 23As for Putin, he said it was "hard to say" if relations with the U.S. would improve. 24I'm Caty Weaver. 25Hai Do wrote this story for Learning English. Caty Weaver was the editor. 26________________________________________________ 27Words in This Story 28constructive - adj. helping to develop and improve something 29stability - n. the quality and state of something that is steady and not easily moved 30convicted - adj. proven guilty of a crime