“Putin killer? I was sincere”

On the eve of Wednesday’s meeting in Geneva, US President Joe Biden was asked to return to his definition of the “ assassination ” of Russian President Vladimir Putin. “I answered honestly, I was sincere,” he told CNN during the press conference at the end of the NATO summit in Brussels. “I think he has actually acknowledged that he is in the past,” Biden continued. “I don’t think my answer matters much now in view of the meeting we are about to have,” he added.

During the final conference of the summit, Biden said he will clarify to the Russian president what are the “red lines” that cannot be crossed by Russia. Instead, he will indicate which are the areas in which Washington and Moscow ” can collaborate ”.

“I’ll make it clear to President Putin that there are areas where we can cooperate if he wants to,” Biden said. . I am not looking for a conflict with Russia, but we will respond if Russia continues its harmful activities. And we will not fail to defend the transatlantic alliance or to defend democratic values. ”

Regarding tomorrow’s meeting, Moscow’s hope is that it will be useful to promote a dialogue on arms control aimed at reducing the number of strategic weapons. “I hope the summit represents a starting point,” Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said in an interview with Izvestia newspaper, arguing that Moscow “presented its proposals” to the Americans.

“The internal evaluation process is underway. It is difficult to predict how long it will take”, he said, hoping that the face to face between Biden and Putin “will begin the work, the difficult work of the negotiations” and stating that it is necessary “limit armaments” and “strengthen strategic stability”.