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

Putin called the summit in Geneva "constructive" and without "hostility."

Last Updated: June 16, 2021, 5:41 PM EDT

U.S. President Joe Biden held a high-stakes summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday at what the leaders agree is a "low point" in the U.S.-Russia relationship.

The two men faced off inside an 18th-century Swiss villa, situated alongside a lake in the middle of Geneva's Parc de la Grange. The fifth American president to sit down with Putin, Biden has spoken with him and met him before, in 2016.

Having called Putin a "killer" and saying he's told him before he has no "soul," Biden told ABC News Chief White House Correspondent Cecilia Vega on Monday that he also recalled the Russian leader as being "bright" and "tough."

"And I have found that he is a -- as they say, when you used to play ball -- a worthy adversary," Biden said.

Jun 16, 2021, 12:15 PM EDT

Putin, in solo news conference after summit, says 'no hostility' with Biden

After the summit, Putin was the first of the two leaders to hold a solo press conference.

He said there was "no hostility" between himself and Biden and called their talks "quite constructive" with both sides seeking "common ground," according to a translator.

Russia's President Vladimir Putin holds a news conference after the U.S.-Russia summit with U.S. President Joe Biden at Villa La Grange in Geneva, June 16, 2021.
Denis Balibouse/Reuters

"I think that both of these sides showed a willingness to understand one another and to find ways to bring our positions closer together," he said through a translator.

Putin said the leaders agreed on the "return of American ambassadors to Moscow and our ambassador to Washington," and regarding cybersecurity, said, "We agreed that we would begin consultations in this respect."

When a reporter asked a question in English about jailed Kremlin critic Alexey Navlany, Putin first laughed, took out his earpiece and claimed he didn't hear what was asked through the translator, before saying he believes Nalvalny "wanted to consciously break the law."

"This man knew he was breaking the laws of Russia. He has been twice convicted," Putin said, refusing to call him by name but instead refer to him as, "the citizen whom you have just mentioned."

Russia's President Vladimir Putin holds a news conference after the U.S.-Russia summit with U.S. President Joe Biden at Villa La Grange in Geneva, Switzerland, June 16, 2021.
Denis Balibouse/Reuters

Jun 16, 2021, 11:45 AM EDT

Biden gives thumbs-up leaving summit

The summit between the two presidents ended earlier than expected. Biden was the first to leave -- giving a thumbs-up to reporters as he walked out.

He departed Villa La Grange for his hotel in the "Beast," the armored presidential limousine that had been idling outside.

The two men spent two hours and 38 minutes meeting together, according to the White House -- shorter than up five hours White House officials said their encounter might last.

Next, Putin is expected to hold a news conference. Biden will wait to begin his own press conference until his counterpart's concludes.

Jun 16, 2021, 11:26 AM EDT

Expanded meeting ends early

A White House official said the expanded bilateral meeting broke at 5:05 p.m. local time (11:05 a.m. ET), after a little more than an hour.

The two men spent two hours and 38 minutes meeting together in total, according to the White House -- shorter than the four to five hours the Biden administration said it expected it to last.

Biden's ride, the Beast, is staged outside the Villa.

The second meeting was going to be broken into two parts -- with a break splitting up the two parts -- but the official said that it was all just one long part.

President Joe Biden meets with Russian President Vladimir Putin at the 'Villa la Grange' in Geneva, June 16, 2021.
Mikhail Metzel/SPUTNIK/AFP via Getty Images

It appears the leaders are done meeting for the day.

Jun 16, 2021, 11:21 AM EDT

White House downplays possible prisoner swap

White House officials have significantly downplayed the prospect of a prisoner swap for two U.S. Marine veterans, Trevor Reed and Paul Whelan, being held in Russia, ahead of the meetings.

"That's certainly something the Russians have been pushing for," said ABC News Chief White House Correspondent Cecilia Vega. "They have basically said this could encourage the Kremlin to target more Americans unfairly like they believe these two Americans there were targeted."

Russian President Vladimir Putin, left, and U.S President Joe Biden shake hands during their meeting at the 'Villa la Grange' in Geneva, Switzerland in Geneva, June 16, 2021.
Alexander Zemlianichenko/Pool via AP

Russian officials have indicated they would like to trade Reed and Whelan for two Russians held in the U.S.: Viktor Bout -- one of the world's most notorious arms dealers and dubbed "the Merchant of Death" — and also Konstantin Yaroshenko, a pilot currently serving a lengthy jail sentence for a drug smuggling conviction.

Whelan's family overnight released an audio message from him recorded from the prison camp in central Russia where he is held. In it, he appealed to Biden to help free him.

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