Chancellor Angela Merkel told the German parliament that EU should seek "direct contact" with <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/russia-warns-britain-against-unacceptable-provocation-in-black-sea-393643">Russia</a> as French President Macron said Europe's stability required a "demanding" dialogue with Russia.

"It is not enough for the US president to talk to the Russian president. I very much welcome that, but the EU must also create forums for dialogue," the German Chancellor told parliament on Thursday.

Watch:

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gravitas-putin-marks-80-years-of-german-invasion-393210/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

French and German envoys had proposed holding a summit with Putin just days after US President Biden held summit talks with the Russian president in Geneva.

EU and Russia have several points of conflicts with the standoff in Ukraine and Belarus taking centre stage.

Kremlin said it was open to the idea of dialogue.&nbsp;The last EU-Russia summit was held in January 2014 just before Russia annexed Ukraine's Crimea as relations between the EU and Russia nosedived.

However, not all EU countries are willing to hold a dialogue with Putin. Poland, Netherlands and the Baltic states want some kind of assurance from the Russian president as a precondition.

Ukraine's foreign minister Dmytro Kuleba opposed the idea asserting that the EU-Russia summit would be a "dangerous deviation" from the EU's sanctions policy.

Macron said talks with Putin will be demanding since the EU will not give up its "values". <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/this-law-is-wrong-angela-merkel-joins-other-eu-leaders-in-criticising-hungarys-anti-lgbt-law-393534">Merkel </a>and Macron believe the EU should engage with Russia on issues&nbsp;of mutual interest namely the Iran nuclear deal, climate change among others although the exact nature of the talks remains unclear.

The development comes after US President Biden met with Putin in Geneva, Switzerland where the two leaders openly spoke about Russia's alleged cyberattack, the Navalny row and other contentious issues.

Biden had said Putin had assured him that the two countries will work together on Iran and&nbsp;agreed on bilateral strategic stability dialogue, a move which Chancellor Merkel and President Macron believe are common grounds for the EU.&nbsp;

Chancellor Angela Merkel told the German parliament that EU should seek "direct contact" with Russia as French President Macron said Europe's stability required a "demanding" dialogue with Russia.

Chancellor Angela Merkel told the German parliament that EU should seek "direct contact" with Russia as French President Macron said Europe's stability required a "demanding" dialogue with Russia. "It is not enough for the US president to talk to the Russian president. I very much welcome that, but the EU must also create forums for dialogue," the German Chancellor told parliament on Thursday. Watch: French and German envoys had proposed holding a summit with Putin just days after US President Biden held summit talks with the Russian president in Geneva. EU and Russia have several points of conflicts with the standoff in Ukraine and Belarus taking centre stage. Kremlin said it was open to the idea of dialogue. The last EU-Russia summit was held in January 2014 just before Russia annexed Ukraine's Crimea as relations between the EU and Russia nosedived. However, not all EU countries are willing to hold a dialogue with Putin. Poland, Netherlands and the Baltic states want some kind of assurance from the Russian president as a precondition. Ukraine's foreign minister Dmytro Kuleba opposed the idea asserting that the EU-Russia summit would be a "dangerous deviation" from the EU's sanctions policy. Macron said talks with Putin will be demanding since the EU will not give up its "values". Merkel and Macron believe the EU should engage with Russia on issues of mutual interest namely the Iran nuclear deal, climate change among others although the exact nature of the talks remains unclear. The development comes after US President Biden met with Putin in Geneva, Switzerland where the two leaders openly spoke about Russia's alleged cyberattack, the Navalny row and other contentious issues. Biden had said Putin had assured him that the two countries will work together on Iran and agreed on bilateral strategic stability dialogue, a move which Chancellor Merkel and President Macron believe are common grounds for the EU.

After Biden summit, Merkel, Macron back EU talks with Putin

President Joe Biden's first overseas trip put his diplomatic and negotiating philosophy on display, as he rallied traditional US democratic allies to confront new and old challenges and offered an often rosy take on the possibilities of cooperation with Russian President Vladimir Putin after a one-on-one summit. 
 
<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/highlights-will-not-tolerate-violence-of-democratic-sovereignty-biden-tells-putin-391919">Read: Blow-by-blow account of Putin-Biden summit</a>

Here are some key takeaways:

A reset they didn't call a reset

Biden and Putin did not use the word reset to describe the state of relations between the two nations after their summit in Switzerland.

But that's what the meeting amounted to, with both men staking out clear areas of disagreement, even as they pointed to smaller-scale areas where they could cooperate. 
 
<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/highlights-stone-face-rare-eye-contact-biden-and-putins-historic-summit-391948">Pictures: 'Stone face, rare eye contact'- Biden and Putin's historic summit</a>

They conveyed both mutual respect and mutual scepticism. It was an abrupt return to more conventional U.S.-Russia framing after the presidency of Donald Trump, who often seemed to elevate Putin and create at least the aspiration that the countries could be more like partners.

This time, each leader left with the understanding that some of the old rules still apply. Russia returns to its place as a worthy adversary," as Biden put it, rather than some kind of colleague. And the longer-standing tensions, over cyber warfare and human rights, remain.

The art of the face 
 
After their three-hour meeting, Biden's sunny disposition stood in sharp contrast to the more sober, taciturn tone of Putin, who at times became defensive when asked questions by reporters about human rights violations in Russia and the country's invasion of Ukraine.

Even so, Biden acknowledged his optimism was more wishful thinking than reality.

I'm going to drive you all crazy because I know you want me to always put a negative thrust on things, particularly in public, he said shortly before boarding Air Force One, adding, that way, you guarantee nothing happens.

It highlighted the president's negotiating style, whether it be with Putin or with Senate Republicans at home on infrastructure in which he publicly expresses his belief that a deal can be struck despite often overwhelming odds.

I know we make foreign policy out to be this great, great skill that somehow is sort of like a secret code," Biden said. "All foreign policy is a logical extension of personal relationships. It's the way human nature functions."

He later added, There's a value to being realistic and to put on an optimistic front, an optimistic face." 
 
.... And the face-to-face 
 
Biden's eight-day, three-country foreign trip demonstrated his emphasis on personal relationships above all.

There's no substitute, as those of you who have covered me for a while now, for face-to-face dialogue between leaders. None, Biden said, declaring his summit with Putin a success simply for the fact that they spoke in person.

Throughout his trip, most of Biden's meetings were conducted in private, without cameras, or with only a few moments open to media.

It highlighted Biden's faith in intangible personal ties that can drive policy outcomes, both foreign and domestic.

And it marked a clear departure in style from Trump, whose freewheeling public meetings with global leaders became something of a legend on the international stage. Relationships tended to flow one way with obsequious public displays by heads of state and government trying to get on Trump's good side.

Biden is banking that those leaders will welcome a return to the old school approach.

With a little help from my friends 
 
Before leaving Washington, Biden reasserted his view that democracies are in a generational confrontation with autocratic governments and that the U.S. can't hope to prevail if it stands alone.

With that in mind, he rallied American allies at the Group of Seven meetings of wealthy democracies and treaty partners at NATO, before his sit-down with Putin.

The sequencing was as much strategy as it was symbolism, with the unified-front posture with allies meant to bolster Biden's position regarding Russia. It also drove momentum behind the U.S.' ongoing showdown with China over trade, security and health policy, as Biden secured tough language on China, both in the G-7 leaders' communique and from NATO countries in their joint statement.

Mad, but don't call it a new cold war 
 
In the wake of a series of disruptive cyberattacks that have emanated from Russia, Biden pressed Putin to curtail criminal and state-sponsored activity from his country by warning of American digital firepower and his willingness to deploy it.

Saying he gave Putin a list of 16 critical infrastructure" sectors, from the energy industry to water systems, Biden said the leaders agreed to task experts to work on specific understandings about what's off-limits in this new domain.

Even as Biden said of Putin, I think that the last thing he wants now is a Cold War, the American president embraced a defining characteristic of that era: deterrence.

Biden said he broached with Putin and his top advisers the possibility of a cyberattack taking down one of their oil pipelines and the devastating impact it could have on their energy-dependent economy.

Biden said Putin was well aware that the US&nbsp;has the significant cyber capability. He doesn't know exactly what it is, but it's significant, and if in fact, they violate these basic norms, we will respond, he knows, in a cyber way.

Domestic tensions cloud global talks 
 
After four years of America First under Trump, Biden set out to show the world that America is back, but lingering domestic instability cast a long shadow overseas.

Whether it be the last president's temperament and isolationist policies or the months of efforts to undermine the 2020 election and the Jan. 6 Capitol insurrection, the tumult of the last four years remains a fresh and raw memory for allies and adversaries alike.

Biden's actions and public comments showed the lengths to which he felt he needed to go to reassure allies that the U.S. could be a credible leader on the world stage.

They have seen things happen, as we have, that shocked them and surprised them, Biden said Monday of American allies. But I think they like I do, believe the American people are not going to sustain that kind of behaviour.

Even if allies were convinced, it was clear that adversaries were unwilling to forget so soon.

In his news conference following his meeting with Biden, Putin repeatedly deflected from his own deadly crackdowns on political dissenters with familiar but now more potent whataboutisms, by pointing to the Capitol assault and Black Lives Matter protests against racial injustice and police brutality in the U.S. last year.

Biden called it a ridiculous comparison, though it was clear some damage couldn't be swiftly undone.

President Joe Biden's first overseas trip put his diplomatic and negotiating philosophy on display, as he rallied traditional US democratic allies to confront new and old challenges and offered an often rosy take on the possibilities of cooperation with Russian President Vladimir Putin after a one-on-one summit.

President Joe Biden's first overseas trip put his diplomatic and negotiating philosophy on display, as he rallied traditional US democratic allies to confront new and old challenges and offered an often rosy take on the possibilities of cooperation with Russian President Vladimir Putin after a one-on-one summit. Read: Blow-by-blow account of Putin-Biden summit Here are some key takeaways: A reset they didn't call a reset Biden and Putin did not use the word reset to describe the state of relations between the two nations after their summit in Switzerland. But that's what the meeting amounted to, with both men staking out clear areas of disagreement, even as they pointed to smaller-scale areas where they could cooperate. Pictures: 'Stone face, rare eye contact'- Biden and Putin's historic summit They conveyed both mutual respect and mutual scepticism. It was an abrupt return to more conventional U.S.-Russia framing after the presidency of Donald Trump, who often seemed to elevate Putin and create at least the aspiration that the countries could be more like partners. This time, each leader left with the understanding that some of the old rules still apply. Russia returns to its place as a worthy adversary," as Biden put it, rather than some kind of colleague. And the longer-standing tensions, over cyber warfare and human rights, remain. The art of the face After their three-hour meeting, Biden's sunny disposition stood in sharp contrast to the more sober, taciturn tone of Putin, who at times became defensive when asked questions by reporters about human rights violations in Russia and the country's invasion of Ukraine. Even so, Biden acknowledged his optimism was more wishful thinking than reality. I'm going to drive you all crazy because I know you want me to always put a negative thrust on things, particularly in public, he said shortly before boarding Air Force One, adding, that way, you guarantee nothing happens. It highlighted the president's negotiating style, whether it be with Putin or with Senate Republicans at home on infrastructure in which he publicly expresses his belief that a deal can be struck despite often overwhelming odds. I know we make foreign policy out to be this great, great skill that somehow is sort of like a secret code," Biden said. "All foreign policy is a logical extension of personal relationships. It's the way human nature functions." He later added, There's a value to being realistic and to put on an optimistic front, an optimistic face." .... And the face-to-face Biden's eight-day, three-country foreign trip demonstrated his emphasis on personal relationships above all. There's no substitute, as those of you who have covered me for a while now, for face-to-face dialogue between leaders. None, Biden said, declaring his summit with Putin a success simply for the fact that they spoke in person. Throughout his trip, most of Biden's meetings were conducted in private, without cameras, or with only a few moments open to media. It highlighted Biden's faith in intangible personal ties that can drive policy outcomes, both foreign and domestic. And it marked a clear departure in style from Trump, whose freewheeling public meetings with global leaders became something of a legend on the international stage. Relationships tended to flow one way with obsequious public displays by heads of state and government trying to get on Trump's good side. Biden is banking that those leaders will welcome a return to the old school approach. With a little help from my friends Before leaving Washington, Biden reasserted his view that democracies are in a generational confrontation with autocratic governments and that the U.S. can't hope to prevail if it stands alone. With that in mind, he rallied American allies at the Group of Seven meetings of wealthy democracies and treaty partners at NATO, before his sit-down with Putin. The sequencing was as much strategy as it was symbolism, with the unified-front posture with allies meant to bolster Biden's position regarding Russia. It also drove momentum behind the U.S.' ongoing showdown with China over trade, security and health policy, as Biden secured tough language on China, both in the G-7 leaders' communique and from NATO countries in their joint statement. Mad, but don't call it a new cold war In the wake of a series of disruptive cyberattacks that have emanated from Russia, Biden pressed Putin to curtail criminal and state-sponsored activity from his country by warning of American digital firepower and his willingness to deploy it. Saying he gave Putin a list of 16 critical infrastructure" sectors, from the energy industry to water systems, Biden said the leaders agreed to task experts to work on specific understandings about what's off-limits in this new domain. Even as Biden said of Putin, I think that the last thing he wants now is a Cold War, the American president embraced a defining characteristic of that era: deterrence. Biden said he broached with Putin and his top advisers the possibility of a cyberattack taking down one of their oil pipelines and the devastating impact it could have on their energy-dependent economy. Biden said Putin was well aware that the US has the significant cyber capability. He doesn't know exactly what it is, but it's significant, and if in fact, they violate these basic norms, we will respond, he knows, in a cyber way. Domestic tensions cloud global talks After four years of America First under Trump, Biden set out to show the world that America is back, but lingering domestic instability cast a long shadow overseas. Whether it be the last president's temperament and isolationist policies or the months of efforts to undermine the 2020 election and the Jan. 6 Capitol insurrection, the tumult of the last four years remains a fresh and raw memory for allies and adversaries alike. Biden's actions and public comments showed the lengths to which he felt he needed to go to reassure allies that the U.S. could be a credible leader on the world stage. They have seen things happen, as we have, that shocked them and surprised them, Biden said Monday of American allies. But I think they like I do, believe the American people are not going to sustain that kind of behaviour. Even if allies were convinced, it was clear that adversaries were unwilling to forget so soon. In his news conference following his meeting with Biden, Putin repeatedly deflected from his own deadly crackdowns on political dissenters with familiar but now more potent whataboutisms, by pointing to the Capitol assault and Black Lives Matter protests against racial injustice and police brutality in the U.S. last year. Biden called it a ridiculous comparison, though it was clear some damage couldn't be swiftly undone.

Biden-Putin summit takeaways: Respect, optimism, and some scepticism

US President Joe Biden and Russian President Vladimir Putin met at Geneva for the much-awaited summit talks on Wednesday.&nbsp;

Watch:

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/putin-calls-discussions-with-biden-fruitful-constructive-during-post-summit-press-conference-392034/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

After meeting for over three and half hours, the two leaders addressed a press conference separately.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/highlights-will-not-tolerate-violence-of-democratic-sovereignty-biden-tells-putin-391919">Read: Blow-by-blow account of Putin-Biden summit</a>

The Russian president was the first to address reporters as he informed that a possible prisoner swap with the US was likely&nbsp;and it was discussed with President Biden and that "compromises" may be possible.

The Russian president informed that the two leaders had agreed their ambassadors should return to their respective positions in each other's capital although he added that the timeline is yet to be decided.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/highlights-stone-face-rare-eye-contact-biden-and-putins-historic-summit-391948">Pics: 'Stone face, rare eye contact'- Biden and Putin's historic summit</a>

Putin said Russia and the US had agreed to "consultations on cybersecurity".

"Russia faces the same cyberthreats as the US, including attacks on the Russian healthcare system," Putin said.

However, Biden told the Russian president that critical infrastructure must be "off-limits" to cyberattacks.

On the question of trade relations, Putin said "all depends on the US, we did not introduce restrictions."

The Russian president compared Russia's jailing of political opponents to the arrests of rioters during the US capitol January 6 attacks.

On the question of human rights, Putin brought up Iraq, Guantanamo Bay, Abu Ghraib, gun violence as "evidence" of US human rights failures.

"In American cities, people are killed every day. Let’s talk about Afghanistan - one bombing and 120 people are killed, clearly civilians," the Russian president told reporters.

“Who bears responsibility for this, who’s the killer?”

On Russian opposition leader Navalny, Putin said: "Navalny knew he was violating the law when he did not report about his whereabouts as he returned to Russia after treatment."

"Navalny came back to Russia because he wanted to break the law, so what discussion should we have?"

Biden while addressing reporters said he told the Russian president that he will "not tolerate" interference&nbsp;in US democracy while declaring that the "last thing he wants now is a Cold War".

The US President said Putin had made "ridiculous" comparisons on human rights.

Biden reacted sharply to Putin's remark on the US Capitol riots on January 6, saying: "That's a ridiculous comparison. It's one thing for literally criminals to break through a cordon, go into the Capitol, kill a police officer and be held accountable, than it is for people objecting, marching on the Capitol and saying you are not allowing me to speak freely."

US President Joe Biden and Russian President Vladimir Putin met at Geneva for the much-awaited summit talks on Wednesday. Watch: After meeting for over three and half hours, the two leaders addressed a press conference separately.

US President Joe Biden and Russian President Vladimir Putin met at Geneva for the much-awaited summit talks on Wednesday. Watch: After meeting for over three and half hours, the two leaders addressed a press conference separately. Read: Blow-by-blow account of Putin-Biden summit The Russian president was the first to address reporters as he informed that a possible prisoner swap with the US was likely and it was discussed with President Biden and that "compromises" may be possible. The Russian president informed that the two leaders had agreed their ambassadors should return to their respective positions in each other's capital although he added that the timeline is yet to be decided. Pics: 'Stone face, rare eye contact'- Biden and Putin's historic summit Putin said Russia and the US had agreed to "consultations on cybersecurity". "Russia faces the same cyberthreats as the US, including attacks on the Russian healthcare system," Putin said. However, Biden told the Russian president that critical infrastructure must be "off-limits" to cyberattacks. On the question of trade relations, Putin said "all depends on the US, we did not introduce restrictions." The Russian president compared Russia's jailing of political opponents to the arrests of rioters during the US capitol January 6 attacks. On the question of human rights, Putin brought up Iraq, Guantanamo Bay, Abu Ghraib, gun violence as "evidence" of US human rights failures. "In American cities, people are killed every day. Let’s talk about Afghanistan - one bombing and 120 people are killed, clearly civilians," the Russian president told reporters. “Who bears responsibility for this, who’s the killer?” On Russian opposition leader Navalny, Putin said: "Navalny knew he was violating the law when he did not report about his whereabouts as he returned to Russia after treatment." "Navalny came back to Russia because he wanted to break the law, so what discussion should we have?" Biden while addressing reporters said he told the Russian president that he will "not tolerate" interference in US democracy while declaring that the "last thing he wants now is a Cold War". The US President said Putin had made "ridiculous" comparisons on human rights. Biden reacted sharply to Putin's remark on the US Capitol riots on January 6, saying: "That's a ridiculous comparison. It's one thing for literally criminals to break through a cordon, go into the Capitol, kill a police officer and be held accountable, than it is for people objecting, marching on the Capitol and saying you are not allowing me to speak freely."

Biden discusses human rights, cyberattacks with Putin in Geneva

Highlights: 'Stone face, rare eye contact'- Biden and Putin's historic summit

White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki said today that US President Joe Biden and Russian leader Vladimir Putin will hold their first summit next month in Geneva.

The meeting between the two leaders is set to take place on June 16 in the Swiss city.

"The leaders will discuss the full range of pressing issues, as we seek to restore predictability and stability to the US-Russia relationship," Jen Psaki said.

Kremlin said President Biden and Putin will be discussing "issues of strategic stability" including "resolving regional conflicts" and the pandemic.

Biden had met Putin earlier in 2009 as Obama's vice president. Biden&nbsp;had imposed sanctions against Russia's alleged role in the massive Solar Winds cyber attack amid tensions with the Putin regime.

However, the Biden&nbsp;administration had waived sanctions against Nord Stream 2, the Russian-controlled builder of&nbsp;Russia-Germany gas pipeline which the US government had termed as a security risk.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov had earlier met last week in Reykjavik, Iceland for nearly two and half hours to prepare the ground work for the summit.

White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki said today that US President Joe Biden and Russian leader Vladimir Putin will hold their first summit next month in Geneva.

White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki said today that US President Joe Biden and Russian leader Vladimir Putin will hold their first summit next month in Geneva. The meeting between the two leaders is set to take place on June 16 in the Swiss city. "The leaders will discuss the full range of pressing issues, as we seek to restore predictability and stability to the US-Russia relationship," Jen Psaki said. Kremlin said President Biden and Putin will be discussing "issues of strategic stability" including "resolving regional conflicts" and the pandemic. Biden had met Putin earlier in 2009 as Obama's vice president. Biden had imposed sanctions against Russia's alleged role in the massive Solar Winds cyber attack amid tensions with the Putin regime. However, the Biden administration had waived sanctions against Nord Stream 2, the Russian-controlled builder of Russia-Germany gas pipeline which the US government had termed as a security risk. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov had earlier met last week in Reykjavik, Iceland for nearly two and half hours to prepare the ground work for the summit.

Biden, Putin summit talks to take place in Geneva next month