Politics

Biden talks to Putin https://t.co/fztu3tLX43

— WICH 1310 (@WICH1310) January 26, 2021

… According to the White House, Biden raised concerns about the arrest of opposition figure Alexei Navalny, Russia’s alleged involvement in a massive cyber espionage campaign and reports of Russian bounties on American troops in Afghanistan. The Kremlin, meanwhile, focused on Putin’s response to Biden’s proposal to extend the last remaining U.S.-Russia arms control treaty.

While the readouts from the two capitals emphasized different elements, they both suggested that U.S-Russia relations will be guided, at least at the beginning of the Biden administration, by a desire to do no harm but also no urgency to repair existing damage…

Although the leaders agreed to work together to extend New START before it expires on Feb. 5 and to look at other areas of potential strategic cooperation, the White House said Biden was firm on U.S. support for Ukraine’s sovereignty, while Russia is supporting separatists in the country’s east.

Biden also raised the SolarWinds cyberhack, which has been attributed to Russia. reports of Russian bounties on American soldiers in Afghanistan, interference in the 2020 U.S. election, the poisoning of Navalny and the weekend crackdown on Navalny’s supporters.

“President Biden made clear that the United States will act firmly in defense of its national interests in response to actions by Russia that harm us or our allies,” the White House said. Biden told Putin in the phone call, first reported by The Associated Press, that the U.S, would defend itself and take action, which could include further sanctions, to ensure that Moscow does not act with impunity, officials said…

The call came as Putin considers the aftermath of pro-Navalny protests that took place in more than 100 Russian cities over the weekend. Biden’s team has already reacted strongly to the crackdown on the protests, in which more than 3,700 people were arrested across Russia, including more than 1,400 in Moscow. More protests are planned for the coming weekend…

Just from the public accounts, Biden’s discussion with Putin appeared diametrically opposed to Trump’s…

Funny, that.

NEWS: In a call with Putin, Pres Biden raised the SolarWinds hack, reported bounties on US soldiers in Afghanistan & the poisoning of Navalny, per a WH readout.

Biden "made clear that the US will act firmly in defense of its national interests in response to actions by Russia." pic.twitter.com/PS7ccVhRir

— Sara Cook (@saraecook) January 26, 2021

(Doocy is a FoxNews correspondent, son of the ‘news anchor’ on ‘A Blonde with Two Boobs on A Couch’…)

It was Fox's Peter Doocy. This is the second time Biden has done this joke with Doocy – when Doocy asked a bike-riding Biden in August who his VP choice was, Biden said, "You." https://t.co/pdPfXE1NSS

— Daniel Dale (@ddale8) January 26, 2021