Biden news latest: President shades Putin with gift of aviator sunglasses used by NATO at frosty summit

BIDEN: 'RUSSIA IN A DIFFICULT SPOT' (PART 1)

Before boarding Air Force One earlier today, Biden told reporters that "Russia is in a very, very difficult spot right now."

Biden's remarks came after he was quizzed as to why Russia would be willing to cooperate with the US.

"They are being squeezed by China. They want desperately to remain a major power," he said.

BIDEN DESCRIBES AMIABLE MEETING WITH PUTIN

President Joe Biden described his meeting overall with Putin as "positive" on Wednesday.

"I must tell you, the tone of the entire meeting, I guess it was a total of four hours, it was good. Positive," he said during a press conference.

"There wasn't any strident action taken, where we disagreed, I disagreed, I stated what it was. Where he disagreed, he stated, but it was not done in a hyperbolic atmosphere. There's been too much of that going on."

BIDEN WARNS OF 'DEVASTATING CONSEQUENCES IF NAVALNY DIES

President Biden revealed to the media on Wednesday that he told Putin there would be "devastating" consequences for Russia if Kremlin critic Alexy Navalny dies in prison.

"What do you think happens when he's saying it's not about hurting Navalny, and all the stuff he says to rationalize the treatment of Navalny, and then he dies in prison? 

"I pointed out to him that it matters a great deal ... and I said because there's a violation of an international norm, and it's called the chemical weapons treaty. 

"Can't be trusted. It's about trust. It's about their ability to influence other nations in a positive way."

'PUTIN KNOWS THERE'S CONSEQUENCES'

Biden said he made it clear to Russian President Vladimir Putin that there would be a price to pay if there's any more election meddling or cyberattacks carried out by the Kremlin.

"He knows there are consequences," Biden told reporters in Geneva. "He knows I will take action."

The US President added: "Let's get this straight: How would it be if the United States were viewed by the rest of the world as interfering with the elections directly of other countries and everybody knew it?

"It diminishes the standing of a country that is desperately trying to make sure it maintains its standing as a major world power."

'I DID WHAT I CAME TO DO'

President Biden said he did what he "came to do" in Geneva after meeting with Vladimir Putin earlier today.

"It was important to meet in person so there could be no mistake about or misrepresentations about what I wanted to communicate. I did what I came to do," he said.

"Number one, identify areas of practical work our two countries could do to advance our mutual interest and also benefit the world. 

"Two, communicate directly, directly, that the United States would respond to actions that impair our vital interests or those of our allies.

"And three, to clearly lay out our country's priorities and our values so he heard it straight from me," he said.

BIDEN VOWS TO KEEP PUSHING PUTIN ON HUMAN RIGHTS

President Biden told the media that he warned Putin "human rights is always going to be on the table," during any future discussions.

"It's not about just going after Russia when they violate human rights, it's about who we are," Biden said. 

He added that he "made it clear" to Putin he will continue to speak out what he views to be infractions on human rights on Russian soil.

"I pointed out to him, that's why we are going to raise our concerns about cases, like Alexei Navalny. I made it clear to President Putin, and will continue to raise issues of fundamental human rights, because that's what we are. That's who we are," he said.

BIDEN GIFTED PUTIN CUSTOM AVIATORS

President Joe Biden gifted Vladimir Putin with a pair of custom aviator sunglasses, in addition to a statue of an American Bison, the White House said.

The sunglasses, given to Putin following the two leaders' first face-to-face meeting in Geneva, were made by Randolph USA.

The company produces sunglasses for US military fighter pilots.

Biden is regularly photographed in a pair of aviators when he travels.

BIDEN OPTIMISTIC US-RUSSIA RELATIONS CAN IMPROVE

President Biden struch a realistic, but optimistic tone when reflecting on his meeting with Vladimir Putin.

Biden said the next few months would be a "test" on whether the discussions would prove effective in helping to heal the rift between the two nations.

"What is going to happen next? We're going to be able to look back, look ahead, in three to six months and say, did the things we agreed to sit down and work out, did it work? Do we — are we closer to a major strategic stability talks and progress?" Biden said. 

"That's going to be the test. I am not sitting here saying because the president and I agreed that we would do these things that all of a sudden it's going to work. I'm not saying that."

He continued: "What I am saying is I think there's a genuine prospect to significantly improve the relations between our two countries, without us giving up a single, solitary thing based on principle and our values."

'I FEEL GOOD ABOUT IT'

Before departing Geneva, Switzserland aboard Air Force One on Wednesday afternoon, Biden told reporters he felt "good" about his meeting with Putin and his wider European jaunt.

Biden and Putin described their discussions as "positive" and "constructive." Both leaders agreed to begin consultations on cybersecurity and return their diplomatic posts.

"I really do think — not me, but I think we, the country, has put a different face on where we've been and where we're going, and I feel good about it," Biden said.

AIR FORCE ONE AND PUTIN'S PLANE DEPART GENEVA

President Biden's Air Force One are seen in the below image preparing oto depart Geneva, Switzerland after their long-awaited summit.

BIDEN APOLOGISES TO REPORTER AFTER TESTY EXCHANGE

After President Biden shared a heated exchange with a reporter at the close of his press conference, he apologized for his actions.

"I owe my last questioner an apology. I shouldn’t have been such a wise guy with the last answer I gave," he said.

BIDEN SAYS IT MAKES 'NO SENSE' TO DIVULGE DETAILS OF HIS MEETING WITH PUTIN TO THE PRESS

President Biden told reporters that it makes "no sense" to divulge details of his meeting with Putin after a press conference on Wednesday.

"It makes no sense for me to negotiate with you. It makes no sense for me to tell you what I'm about to do," he said.

"Not because I want to hide anything from you. Why would I tell you about that?"

BIDEN SHARES TESTY EXCHANGE WITH REPORTER

As President Joe Biden left the stage of his solo press briefing on Wednesday, he shared a heated exchange with a reporter after she asked him a question about US prisoners in Russia.

After Biden said he and Putin were going to "follow through" on discussions about potential prisoner exchanges, the reporter asked: "What makes you so confident Putin will change his behavior?"

Heading for the exit, Biden suddenly turned on his heels and angrily, asking: "I didn't say he was going to change his behavior ... what the hell do you do all day?

Biden then raised his index finger and stormed back on stage and in the direction of the reporter.

"When did I say I was confident?" He continued, speaking over the reporter's protestations. "What I said was, what will change their behavior is how the rest of the world reacts."

After the reporter asked a follow-up question, Biden responded: "If you don't understand that, that's your own business."

COVID ORIGINS

Biden was also asked about the origins of Covid-19 during the sweltering briefing.

"What we should be doing ... is rallying to the world to work on what is going to be the physical mechanism available to detect early on the next pandemic & have a mechanism by which we can respond to it," he replied.

SNAPPING BACK

When asked why he was so "confident" Putin will change his behavior by Kaitlan Collins, Biden snapped back: "I'm not confident I'm going to change his behavior. What the hell?"

"What do you do all the time?" he demanded. "If you don't understand that, you're in the wrong business."

FOLLOWING THROUGH

Today, Biden was asked about the US prisoners in Russia Trevor Reed and Paul Whelan.

"We're going to follow through on that," Biden said. "I'm not going to walk away on that."

AMERICA IS BACK

CANDY WEIGHS IN

Candace Owens of course gave her two cents on the president's press conference.

The far-right pundit - who has been criticizing Biden on Twitter repeatedly on Wednesday - tweeted again just before 2pm.

"Putin just embarrassed Joe Biden on the world stage so now of course our state press is running damage control by artificially manufacturing Twitter trends to pretend Putin was somehow confronted," she claimed.

"Putin was right—America has ceded moral ground under Democrat tyranny."

SETTING THE RECORD STRAIGHT

A Fox News reported asks if he'll challenge his "old friend to old friend" Xi.

"Let's get something straight: we've known each other a long time but we're not old friends," Biden retorted.

BIDEN'S GIFABLE MOMENT

PAST BEHAVIOR

As Biden tried to leave the podium, one reporter asked how he knew Putin would change his behavior given his past atttitude dismissing the hack attacks, he turned around once more before walking away.

'WE'RE NOT OLD FRIENDS'

Biden said his relationship with China's leader Xi was "pure business."

"The world's attitude to towards China," Biden said, asking if the country was "really trying to get to the bottom of this."

The president noted that the aim was to respond to the next pandemic "early."

DEEPER UNDERSTANDING

When asked if he now had a different understanding of Putin "not having a soul" after their meeting, Biden evaded the question.

'MAJOR INTERNATIONAL POWER'

Biden noted that Russia was a "major international power" when it was united.

He said the way it would remain a formidable player on the world stage was standing united.

SPEECH RESEARCH

Biden revealed that he's read many of Putins books and biographies.