Biden prepares to confront Putin | TheHill

President BidenJoe BidenBiden prepares to confront Putin Ukrainian president thanks G-7 nations for statement of support Biden aims to bolster troubled Turkey ties in first Erdoğan meeting MORE’s meeting with Russian President Vladimir PutinVladimir Vladimirovich PutinBiden prepares to confront Putin Ukrainian president thanks G-7 nations for statement of support Biden aims to bolster troubled Turkey ties in first Erdoğan meeting MORE in Geneva this week marks the latest chapter in a highly adversarial relationship.Biden has always been blunt in his assessments of Putin, telling the Russian leader to his face a decade ago that he believes he has “no soul” and calling Putin a "killer" in a televised news interview earlier this year.White House allies say that Biden will go into the meeting with open eyes and well-prepared to confront Putin over Russia’s aggressive conduct and to lay out consequences for further provocations.The Wednesday meeting is expected to be frosty, and the White House has set expectations low, saying Biden’s goal is to put the U.S. on a path to a more predictable relationship with Moscow. It is certain to draw sharp contrast with the 2018 summit between then-President TrumpDonald TrumpBiden prepares to confront Putin Biden aims to bolster troubled Turkey ties in first Erdoğan meeting Senate investigation of insurrection falls short MORE and Putin in Helsinki, during which Trump triggered enormous controversy by doubting the U.S. intelligence community’s assessment of Russian election interference during a joint press conference.Biden will hold a solo news conference following the meeting, the White House says.Biden has faced criticism from certain corners for even setting the meeting, with some Republicans accusing him of rewarding Putin for destabilizing behavior.Allies point to Biden's experience in the foreign policy realm as a key advantage going into the meeting in Geneva.“He’s got literally decades of experience standing up to authoritarians, meeting with and confronting national leaders with records of human rights violations and aggression,” said Sen. Chris CoonsChris Andrew CoonsBiden prepares to confront Putin Concerns grow over China's Taiwan plans Progressives want to tighten screws beyond Manchin and Sinema MORE (D-Del.), a close associate of Biden’s in the Senate.“He’s known Putin for years so, in contrast to his predecessor, I think he’ll go into this meeting well-briefed, well-aware of what the challenges are of interacting with Putin, clear-eyed about the limitations on any chance for us to cooperate, and intending to lay out clear lines about Russia’s recent conduct,” Coons said.Biden met with Putin, then Russia’s prime minister, during the Obama administration in 2011 and repeatedly and publicly rebuked him after Russia annexed Ukraine’s Crimean Peninsula in 2014.