It’s been reported this morning that both Biden and Putin have agreed to meet in Geneva during Biden’s trip to Europe next month:
FOX NEWS – President Biden and Russian President Vladimir Putin are expected to meet in Geneva next month, the White House announced Tuesday, maintaining that the meeting will serve as a tool to manage what will continue to be a deeply challenging relationship between the U.S. and Russia.
The meeting is expected to take place on June 16, when Biden and Putin are slated to discuss issues like Iran and North Korea’s nuclear capabilities, Syria, the Arctic, strategic stability, arms control, climate change, COVID-19 and more.
The meeting will take place next month while Biden is already in Europe, a source familiar with the arrangements explained to Fox News. The source said Biden will meet with Putin after meeting with G-7 allies, so that he can understand their concerns and perspectives on Russia.
The source said no significant agreements should be expected from the meeting between the two leaders, but it instead would serve as an opportunity for Biden and Putin to engage on intentions, plans and perspectives.
The source, though, said Biden intends to send a clear, unequivocal message to clarify U.S. intentions, while warning of a U.S. response to certain types of Russian activities.
When Ted Cruz got wind of the news, he put a great question out there for reporters to ask Biden:
An enterprising reporter should ask The White House if pumping the brakes on Nord Stream 2 sanctions was a precondition for this meeting. https://t.co/1n1DWvR4Nf
— Ted Cruz (@tedcruz) May 25, 2021
Great question. Because it was only a few days ago that Biden had dumped the sanctions on the Russian company building the pipeline. And now suddenly there’s a meeting?
It was bad enough for Biden to get rid of the sanctions in of itself, but if he did it just to get a meeting with Putin, that would be so much worse.
I’m sure someone in the White House press room will take Cruz’s advice get to the bottom of this. Right.