Face To Face

Biden meets Putin in four-hour talks and claims: ‘I did what I came to do

- Christopher Bucktin

Joe Biden faced Vladimir Putin for four hours of high-stakes talks yesterday – then declared: “The United States is back.”

After their summit the US President said there was a “genuine prospect” of improved relations between America and Russia, but that the test for this would be in the months ahead.

The Russian leader said: “President Biden is an experienced statesman. He is very different from President Trump.”

Mr Biden’s predecessor Donald Trump was seen by many as being weak with the ex-KGB officer, believing his denials of US spies’ claims that Moscow interfered in the 2016 US elections.

Asked about the possibility of further Russian election meddling or other cybersecurity attacks against the US, Mr Biden said: “He knows there are consequences. He knows I will take action.”

Both leaders agreed to allow their ambassadors back into both countries.