Biden-Putin summit highlights: 'I did what I came to do,' Biden said

When Putin meets Biden on Wednesday in Switzerland, experts in Moscow say for all their differences, the two leaders want something similar from their first summit: to cool things down.

The U.S. and Russia's relations are the worst they have been since the Cold War and since 2016 in particular seem locked in almost permanent crises.

Biden has said he wants a more stable and predictable relationship with Russia, one that would allow it to focus on other foreign policy priorities that are more important to it, like taking a harder line with China. The Kremlin for its part has faced a continuous and intensifying barrage of sanctions-- the latest in April-- and with its crackdown on opposition at home and aggressive actions abroad is increasingly becoming a pariah with western countries.

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Key moments driving the past 2 decades of U.S.-Russia relations

As President Joe Biden meets with Russian President Vladimir Putin, ABC News’ Ian Pannell takes a look at some of the key moments between the U.S. and Russia since Putin came to power in 2000.

ABCNews.com

Since coming to office, Russia has appeared to want to get Biden's attention. The president offered Putin the summit after Russia massed thousands of troops on Ukraine's border in April.

But now, having got Biden to the table, analysts said Putin has a clear proposal to deliver in Geneva: stay out of Russian domestic politics and Russia might act less troublesome abroad.

"The Kremlin wants to transition to a respectful adversarial relationship from a disrespectful one we have today," said Vladimir Frolov, a former diplomat at Russia's embassy in Washington and now a commentator on foreign affairs.

"That is, it wants to be treated the same way the Soviet Politburo was treated by the US in 1970-80s," Frolov told ABC News. "Meaning no name-calling" — such as Biden calling Putin a "killer" — "no personal sanctions on the leadership, no democracy lectures, regular personal summit meetings; respectful tone of discussions, no tangible support for Russian opposition."

It will not be an invitation for détente but instead to return to the later years of the Cold War when Putin was a KGB agent and the Soviet Union and the U.S. saw each other as enemies but tried to maintain a predictable relationship. And, crucially, where Russia was treated as an equal.

"For this, the Kremlin is prepared to promise to behave more responsibly," Frolov said.

"This seems to be in line with what the White House sees as a desirable deliverable," he continued. "So unless one of the leaders stormed out of the meeting shouting expletives, the summit would be a major success."

-ABC News' Patrick Reevell

Biden will go before the press corps alone following his summit with Putin in Geneva on Wednesday. He defended that choice by saying he doesn't want the attention to be on physical details, but rather the substance of their discussions from their own points of view.

"I don't want to get into being diverted by, did they shake hands? How far did they -- who talked the most and the rest," Biden said in England on Sunday. "He can say what he said the meeting was about and I will say what I think the meeting was about. That's how I'm going to handle it."

-ABC News' Justin Gomez

As Biden's first foreign trip as president prepares to come to a close, he's announced a new slate of ambassadors to represent the United States -- another instance of the Biden administration showcasing their desire to restore the U.S. presence on the world stage. 

Biden's nominees include Ken Salazar for ambassador to Mexico, C. B. "Sully" Sullenberger, III, for the rank of ambassador during his tenure of service as representative of the U.S. on the Council of the International Civil Aviation Organization, Thomas R. Nides for ambassador to Israel, Julianne Smith, for the United States permanent representative to NATO, Dr. Cynthia Ann Telles for ambassador to Costa Rica, Julie Chung for ambassador to the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka, Sharon Cromer for U.S. ambassador to the Republic of The Gambia, Troy Damian Fitrell for ambassador to the Republic of Guinea and Marc Ostfield for ambassador to the Republic of Paraguay.

A source familiar with the nominations underscored the diversity among the nominees, following the pledge Biden made to have an administration that "looks like America," and stressed that even the political picks bring relevant experience to the table for their respective roles. 

-ABC News' Molly Nagle

Though the two leaders have met before, it will be Biden's first face-to-face with the foreign "adversary" since being elected president. 

During a phone call with Putin in April, Biden was the one to propose the meeting, tacked onto which will serve as a major test for the new president who is well acquainted with the Russian leader. 

Ahead of the summit, the White House tailored its message to emphasize that the meeting was taking place because of differences with Russia, not in spite of them. 

"This is not a contest about who can do better in front of a press conference or try to embarrass each other. It's about making myself very clear what the conditions are to get a better relationship are with Russia," Biden said during a news conference Sunday. 

"We're not looking for conflict. We are looking to resolve those actions which we think are inconsistent with international norms, number one. Number two, where we can work together," he continued.