Daily US Times: President Joe Biden said Sunday that he will discuss human rights abuses with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin when they meet in Switzerland next month.
“I’ll be meeting with President Putin in a couple of weeks in Geneva, making it clear that we will not — we will not stand by and let him abuse those rights,” the US president said in remarks honoring Memorial Day, during which he noted America was founded on the ideal that all men and women are created equal and said the United States has an obligation to speak out when it sees human rights abuses.
Last week, the White House said that the first face-to-face meeting between Joe Biden and Vladimir Putin will take place in Geneva on June 16, with the two leaders planning to discuss a range of issues as the US looks to improve ties with Russia.
Mr Biden has previously met with the Russian president during his time as vice president, including a 2011 meeting during which Biden said he looked into Putin’s eyes and declared: “I don’t think you have a soul.”
Despite deteriorating relations between the US and Russia on issues like Ukraine and election interference, president Biden hopes to establish a clear channel of communication that would avoid undue surprises.
Biden administration targeted Russia with sweeping sanctions and diplomatic expulsions in April, in part for the country’s “severe human rights abuses” in Crimea.
Joe Biden also said he raised human rights abuses on a call with Chinese President Xi Jinping.
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