Putin says wants to find ways with Biden to improve ties
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04/06/2021 - 17:50 Vladimir Putin s meeting with US counterpart Joe Biden comes amid the biggest crisis in ties between the two countries in years Dmitry LOVETSKY POOL/AFP 4 min
Saint Petersburg (AFP)
Russian President Vladimir Putin said Friday he is hoping to improve deeply damaged relations with the United States when he holds his first summit with US counterpart Joe Biden later this month.
The face-to-face meeting in Geneva on June 16 comes amid the biggest crisis in ties between the two countries in years, with tensions high over a litany of issues including hacking allegations, human rights and claims of election meddling.
Russian President Vladimir Putin said Friday he is hoping to improve deeply damaged relations with the United States when he holds his first summit with US counterpart Joe Biden later this month.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has said he wants to improve Moscow’s ties with Washington when he holds his first summit with US counterpart Joe Biden later this month, but he set a tough tone ahead of the meeting and said the US wants to “hold back” Russia’s development.
The face-to-face meeting scheduled to take place in Geneva on June 16 comes amid deeply strained relations between the United States and Russia.
Tensions are running high over a litany of issues including the jailing of Kremlin critic Alexey Navalny and the conflict in Ukraine, as well as allegations of hacking and election meddling.
Vladimir Putin has told officials to prepare to open Russia for vaccine tourism where foreigners can pay for the Sputnik V jab.
The president, who says the vaccine is as reliable as a Kalashnikov rifle, also claimed that some countries were avoiding the Russian-made jabs for political reasons.
Speaking at the annual economic conference in St Petersburg, Putin said: Taking into account the efficiency of our vaccines, I know that [foreign] demand is pretty high. The domestic pharmaceutical industry is ready to further ramp up vaccine production, the 68-year-old added.
Kirill Dmitriyev, the head of the Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF) which finances the vaccine, said at the forum that Russia could become open for vaccine tourism from July.