First Face To Face Meeting

Biden and Putin Meet in Geneva, Biden Makes Mistake

First Face-to-Face Meeting

WEB US President Joe Biden and Russian President Vladimir Putin held their first face-to-face meeting in Geneva on June 16, 2021. The summit was highly anticipated, as it was the first time the two leaders had met since Biden took office in January.

Biden's Mistake

During his opening remarks, Biden mistakenly referred to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky as President Putin. The error was quickly corrected, but it raised questions about Biden's mental acuity.

High-Stakes Virtual Meeting

Biden had previously met with Zelensky in a virtual meeting on Tuesday, June 15, 2021. During that meeting, Biden warned Zelensky of the consequences of Russia invading Ukraine. Biden also emphasized the US's commitment to Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity.

NATO Address

Biden addressed his mistake in a speech to NATO leaders on Wednesday, June 16, 2021. He said that he was "embarrassed" by the error and that he had apologized to Zelensky.

Reaction

The mistake was widely reported in the media and on social media. Some commentators criticized Biden for the error, while others downplayed its significance.