One of the downside risks of U.S. President Biden’s decision to invite Russian President Vladimir Putin to a summit in Geneva was that it created a permission structure for European allies who would want to orchestrate similar meetings with the Russian leader. “If the Americans are taking the initiative to speak to Putin, why can’t Europe?” one European diplomat told the Financial Times. On Wednesday, the leaders of Germany and France did just that, proposing that the EU hold a summit with Putin. The timing of the overture from Berlin and Paris was less than ideal.
OP-ED
David Kramer, Eric Edelman: The Biden-Putin Summit has opened the floodgates
Russian President Vladimir Putin (L) shakes hands with U.S. President Joe Biden prior to the U..S-Russia summit at the Villa La Grange, in Geneva on June 16, 2021.
