Joe Biden\u2019s national security adviser, Jake Sullivan, defended the U.S. president\u2019s decision to meet next week with Russian President Vladimir Putin, saying it\u2019s the best way to ascertain the Kremlin\u2019s intentions.<\/p>\n
Biden will meet June 16 with Putin in Geneva, following summits with Group of Seven and NATO allies beginning Thursday, where the American president plans to consult on his meeting with the Russian leader, Sullivan said.<\/p>\n
Biden \u201cwill go into this meeting with the wind at his back,\u201d Sullivan said Monday during a White House press briefing.<\/p>\n
The president, however, has drawn some criticism for proposing a summit with Putin despite Moscow\u2019s alleged interference in U.S. elections, cyberattacks on American companies and government agencies, and Russia\u2019s hostility toward Ukraine and its treatment of Putin\u2019s political opponents.<\/p>\n
Sullivan said the meeting isn\u2019t a \u201creward\u201d for Putin. \u201cWe regard it as a vital part of defending America\u2019s interests and America\u2019s values,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Meeting with Putin, he said, is the best way for Biden to determine the Kremlin\u2019s intentions in the world. Putin \u201chas a highly personalized style of decision-making,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Sullivan announced that Biden had also spoken with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy on Monday and invited him to visit the White House this summer. Biden assured Zelenskiy during the call that in his meeting with Putin, \u201che will stand up firmly for Ukraine\u2019s sovereignty, territorial integrity and aspirations.\u201d<\/p>\n
And NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg expressed support for the summit following a meeting with Biden Monday afternoon, saying the alliance supported a \u201cdual track approach\u201d of defense deterrence and dialogue with Russia.<\/p>\n
\u201cDialogue with Russia is not a sign of weakness,\u201d Stoltenberg said at the White House. \u201cWe are strong, we are united, and we can talk to Russia, and we need to talk to Russia partially to strive for a better relationship. But even if you don\u2019t believe in a better relationship with Russia, we need to manage a difficult relationship.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Joe Biden\u2019s national security adviser, Jake Sullivan, defended the U.S. president\u2019s decision to meet next week with Russian President Vladimir Putin, saying it\u2019s the best way to ascertain the Kremlin\u2019s intentions. Biden will meet June 16 with Putin in Geneva, following summits with Group of Seven and NATO allies beginning Thursday, where the American president […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":196663,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-196658","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-world"],"yoast_head":"\n