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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, 12:40 PM EDT

ABC News to Putin on imprisoned opposition leader Navalny: 'What are you so afraid of?'

ABC News Congressional Correspondent Rachel Scott pressed Putin directly on the fate of imprisoned Russian opposition leader Alexey Navlany.

"The list of your political opponents who are dead, imprisoned, or jailed is long. Alexey Navalny’s organization calls for free and fair elections, an end to corruption. But Russia has outlawed that organization, calling it extremist. And you have now prevented anyone who supports him to run for office," Scott said. "So my question is, Mr. President, what are you so afraid of?"

Putin responded by bringing up the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol, and finished by saying, "And fears, I don't want to talk about that. That's absolutely irrelevant."

"You didn't answer my question, sir," Scott said. "If all of your political opponents are dead, in prison or poisoned, doesn't that send a message that you do not want a fair political fight?"

Putin again raised the U.S. insurrection, noting that 400 people were arrested.

"As for who is killing whom and throwing whom in jail, people came to the U.S. Congress with political demands," Putin said. "They face prison sentences of up to 20, maybe even 25 years."

"They are being called 'domestic terrorists.' They are being accused of a number of other crimes," he added, deflecting from Navalny whom he refuses to call by name.

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.

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