“In Geneva and in the weeks that follow, President Joe Biden is testing his own approach to Vladimir Putin’s Russia and his aggression — on the world stage, in cyberspace and against his domestic opposition.
“After their afternoon summit in the Swiss capital, Biden said give him time to see if his approach works — trying to play to Putin’s long desire to have Moscow seen as a key power, respected and feared around the globe.
“For his part, Putin reveled in the role of world statesman again and the platform the summit gave him — smiling before the cameras, fielding questions from several reporters, and defending his government on human rights, foreign interventions, and cyber space.
“In contrast, Biden seemed to go to lengths to boost Russia’s importance. During their first photo op, the president called the U.S. and Russia “two great powers” — an equal standing that Putin has long sought since coming to power in 2000 in the turbulent — and to many Russians, ignominious — post-Soviet years. In the days before their meeting, he called Putin a “worthy opponent” and “bright.””
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