Biden hopes to meet with Putin during June Europe trip

President Biden on Tuesday said he hoped to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin during a June trip to Europe for the Group of Seven (G-7) summit.

“That is my hope and expectation. We’re working on it,” Biden told reporters after remarks on the pandemic.

Biden is scheduled to take his first overseas trip since becoming president when he attends the G-7 summit, which is being hosted this year by the United Kingdom in Cornwall. The trip is also tentatively scheduled to include a stop in Belgium for meetings with European and NATO leaders.

The G-7 summit, from June 11 to June 13, will be the first in-person meeting of the leaders in two years after former President Trump postponed last year’s summit, which was supposed to be held in the United States. Leaders instead met virtually.

While no meeting between Biden and Putin has been finalized, the White House has said officials are working to make it happen after Biden suggested holding a summit in a third country during a call last month.

The president in mid-April spoke with Putin over the phone and raised concerns about Moscow’s aggression toward Ukraine, discussed the extension of the New START nuclear arms treaty, and warned Russia against cyber intrusions and election interference.