\u00ab\u00a0I don’t want to get into being diverted by ‘did they shake hands, who talked the most’ and the rest,\u00a0\u00bb said the U.S. president.<\/b>
\nU.S. President Joe Biden has defended his decision to hold a solo press conference without Russian President Vladimir Putin following their high-stakes meeting next Wednesday. During a press conference at the end of the Group of Seven (G7) summit in the U.K. on Sunday, Biden told reporters that he’s not conducting a joint conference with Putin because \u00ab\u00a0this is not a contest about who can do better in front of a press conference and try to embarrass each other.\u00a0\u00bb \u00ab\u00a0It is about making myself very clear what the conditions are to get a better relationship with Russia. We’re not looking for conflict, we are looking to resolve those actions that we think are inconsistent with international norms,\u00a0\u00bb he continued. \u00ab\u00a0The bottom line is that I think the best way to deal with this is for he and I to meet. He and I have to have our discussion.\u00a0\u00bb Biden added: \u00ab\u00a0I know you don’t doubt that I’ll be very straightforward with him about our concerns and I will make clear my view of how that meeting turned out and he’ll make clear from his perspective how it turned out. But I don’t want to get into being diverted by ‘did they shake hands, who talked the most’ and the rest.\u00a0\u00bb On Saturday, the Biden administration confirmed that the president will conclude his meeting with Putin with a full press conference without the Russian leader present. \u00ab\u00a0While we are still finalizing the format for the meeting with President Putin and his delegation, we can confirm a few details, including the plan for both a working session and a smaller session, as well as a solo press conference by President Biden following the meeting,\u00a0\u00bb said a White House official. The official added: \u00ab\u00a0We expect this meeting to be candid and straightforward and a solo press conference is the appropriate format to clearly communicate with the free press the topics that were raised in the meeting\u2014both in terms of areas where we may agree and in areas where we have significant concerns.\u00a0\u00bb White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki told CNN that Biden \u00ab\u00a0has every intention to raise human rights abuses\u00a0\u00bb and \u00a0\u00bb the jailing of dissidents and activists\u00a0\u00bb during the private meeting. \u00ab\u00a0The president is not going to hold back in raising issues where he has concern and he’ll be straightforward and direct with President Putin,\u00a0\u00bb she said. \u00ab\u00a0That’s the benefit of meeting in person. That’s different than a phone call.\u00a0\u00bb However, the administration decision to hold a solo presser indicates Biden’s reluctance to hold Putin to account publicly and press the Russian leader in front of the media. Biden also told reporters today that he agrees with Putin’s assessment that ties between the two countries have recently hit a \u00ab\u00a0low point.\u00a0\u00bb \u00ab\u00a0I think he’s right that it’s a low point,\u00a0\u00bb he said. \u00ab\u00a0It depends on how he responds to acting consistent with international norms, in many cases he has not. I told him when I was running, when I got elected, before I was sworn in, that I was going to find out whether or not he did engage in trying to interfere in our election. That I was going to take a look at whether he was involved in the cybersecurity breach that had occurred etc.\u00a0\u00bb \u00ab\u00a0I did, I checked it out, he was engaged in those activities, I did respond and made it clear that I’d respond again,\u00a0\u00bb Biden added. Newsweek reached out to the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs for comment. This story will be updated with any response.<\/p>\n