Biden Discusses Putin Summit with Media; Here’s What He Said on Cyberattacks, Election Meddling, and More

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GENEVA, SWITZERLAND - JUNE 16: US president Joe Biden (L) and Russia's President Vladimir Putin meet at the start of the U.S.-Russia summit at Villa La Grange on June 16, 2021 in Geneva, Switzerland. (Photo by Denis Balibouse - Pool/Keystone via Getty Images)

Following two and a half hours of meetings in Geneva with Russian President Vladimir Putin, U.S. President Joe Biden held a press conference, calling the talks “straight forward.” He said he’s “not against Russia,” but that “some basic rules of the road that we can all abide by” are needed.

Putin addressed the press corps earlier in the day.

Before he took questions, Biden revealed that he pressed Putin on the poisoning and detainment of Alexei Navalny, the Russian opposition politician. Following a question from a reporter, Biden said there would be “devastating consequences for Russia” if Navalny dies.

Biden rejected Putin’s comparison of dead Russian dissidents to Americans arrested for their involvement in the January 6 riot at the U.S. Capitol.

“That is a ridiculous comparison,” Biden said. “It’s one thing for literally criminals to break through, go into the Capitol, kill a police officer and be held accountable, than it is for objecting and marching on the capital [in Russia].”

Biden also said he raised the issue of a prisoner swap; two former Marines are currently in Russian custody. Biden says he’s going to continue to fight for their return.

Biden claimed that he dove into “the specifics” in “excruciating detail” with Putin on issues like nuclear containment, conflict in Afghanistan, and the sovereignty of Ukraine.

On cybercrime, Biden said he told Putin that certain critical infrastructure, like energy and water systems, should be off-limits. Earlier, Putin denied that Russia was behind a series of cyberattacks on U.S. entities.

Biden said Putin knows that he’ll “take action” if cyberattacks or election meddling continues. “He knows there are consequences,” Biden said, touting America’s “significant cyber capabilities” with a smile. “He knows,” Biden repeated.

If Russia fails to maintain international norms on human rights issues and business practices, Biden said Russia will become alienated from the rest of the world.

“I don’t think he’s looking for a new Cold War with the United States,” Biden said on Putin.

Biden slipped on a pair of aviator sunglasses as he departed the press conference. Earlier in the day, he had given a similar pair to Putin.