The meeting between US President Joe Biden and Russian President Vladimir Putin, the most anticipated political event this year, has started at the summit in Geneva, Switzerland, CNBC informed.
The meeting was started after both of the leaders shook their hands at the Villa La Grange in Geneva, a place purposefully chosen due to a long history of political neutrality.
Russian president gave a statement of hope that the meeting with his US counterpart would indeed be a productive one.
According to Reuters, Putin thanked Biden for the initiative for the meeting, on which Biden responded that it is always much better when the meeting is performed face to face.
The summit, which is set to last for about 5 hours, covers a meeting between the leaders of the two countries as well as their closest officials. After that, talks between the wider delegation of US and Russia is scheduled, which will be followed by separate press conferences where the two leaders will answer questions.
The media attention for this summit is very intense and there were quarrels between reporters from Russian and US at the venue’s entrance.
The summit is scheduled to start with the first meeting between Putin and Biden who will be joined by Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and US Secretaru of State Antony Blinken, along with the translators.
After this first meeting, there is another one scheduled where the wide delegations will hold several sessions, and after that both leaders will give press conference but separately. Vladimir Putin is set to give the first one, which will be followed by President Biden. Meals did not get devoted time on this summit, but leaders are expected to have breaks.
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