How Joe Biden, Donald Trump and Barack Obama Interacted With PutinIn Photos – Newsweek
Since he was sworn in as Russia's leader in 2000, Vladimir Putin has dealt with five U.S. presidents to varying degrees of diplomacy.
The question of how the U.S. deals with one of its oldest adversaries has once again risen after Putin launched an invasion of Ukraine, with President Joe Biden facing a next major foreign policy test on how he handles the crisis.
Many conservatives have suggested that Biden is more to blame than Putin launching an attack on the neighboring country and that such a military operation would have never occurred under Donald Trump's watch.
Below, Newsweek looks back at how Biden and the previous presidents over the past 22 years interacted with Putin.
Biden and Putin had their first face-to-face meeting in June 2021 at a summit in Geneva.
Biden announced beforehand that he was keen to use the summit to repair the strained relationship between the U.S and Russia following years of allegations the country had interfered in the 2016 election.
Photos from the day appear to show Biden willing to maintain a decent relationship with Putin and Russia, with both presidents seen smiling as they shook hands at the summit held at the La Grange Villa near Lake Geneva.
"The tone of the entire meeting was good, positive," Biden said following the meeting: "The bottom line is, I told President Putin that we need to have some basic rules of the road that we can all abide by."
The friendly tone arrived just months after Biden Biden told ABC News the Russian president would "pay the price" for allegedly interfering in the 2020 election and referred to Putin as a "killer."
Trump and Putin frequently met during his time in the White House, although details about what the pair spoke about were often not disclosed.
One of their most famous meeting was in the Finish capital of Helsinki, where Trump dismissed suggestions that Russia colluded to tip the results of the 2016 election in his favor.
Trump infamously told the press conference that he did not "see any reason why it would be" Russia which is alleged to have interfered in the 2016 election, although Trump later claimed he misspoke and instead meant to say "wouldn't."
Trump, who seemingly never wanted to criticize Putin, made a similar statement when the two met again on November 11, 2017, at a meeting of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum in Da Nang, Vietnam.
"Every time he sees me, he says, 'I didn't do that,'" Trump said. "And I believe, I really believe, that when he tells me that, he means it. I think he is very insulted by it."
The pair first met during a G20 meeting in Hamburg, Germany, in July 2017, although they had communicated with each via telephone and telegraph before this.
Throughout his presidency, Trump considered Putin a key ally and still praises him to this day.
One president who did not shy away from his criticism of Putin was Barack Obama.
In August 2013, Obama canceled a planned meeting with Putin at the U.S.-Russia summit after NSA whistleblower Edward Snowden fled to Russian seeking asylum after leaking thousands of classified documents.
The New York Timesreported it was the first time in decades that a U.S. president had canceled such a meeting, and that the relationship between the two former cold war adversaries was once again approaching near irreparable.
The pair continued to clash down the years. Obama opposed Russia's annexation of Crimea from Ukraine in 2014, as well as Putin's backing of Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad's regime amid the country's war.
The pair once again met to discuss foreign policy a few years later, with the relationship still appearing to be standoffish.
One of the most famous images during Obama's time in office arrived at the G20 Leaders Summit in Hangzhou, China, as the U.S. president stared down his Russian counterpart in September 2016.
The frosty reception arrived as the pair discussed a potential ceasefire in Syria. However, Obama later said that "gaps of trust" prevented reaching an agreement and that the 90-minute discussion between the pair was "candid, blunt, businesslike."
The GOP president famously said after his first meeting in Slovenia in 2001 with Putin that he looked him in the eye to "get a sense of his soul".
"He's a man deeply committed to his country," Bush added.
However, the relationship soured down the years, including telling former British Prime Minister Tony Blair that he lost his cool during a meeting with Putin and his interpreter made me "so mad that I nearly reached over the table and slapped the hell out of the guy."
Clinton was in the White House when Putin became Russia's president for the first time, but previously knew him from his stint as Russia prime minister.
Clinton, who famously had a friendly rapport with Putin's predecessor Boris Yeltsin, met with Putin for the first time in Moscow on June 3, 2000. An official told The New York Times that the meeting, in which they discussed a range of issues such as the American-Russian nuclear relationship, was businesslike,'' ''congenial'' and ''easygoing.''
"Remember that the two presidents do know each other, and that was quite apparent from the beginning," the official added.
More here:
How Joe Biden, Donald Trump and Barack Obama Interacted With PutinIn Photos - Newsweek
- Airbnb CEO Brian Chesky says he went to night school for an hour every day with Barack Obama and even turned in homework - Yahoo Finance - May 28th, 2025 [May 28th, 2025]
- Stray Kids' Bang Chan Joins Malia Obama in Cosigning the Clogs Trend for Summer 2025 - Teen Vogue - May 28th, 2025 [May 28th, 2025]
- Barack and Michelle Obama spotted on swanky date night in NYC as divorce rumors swirl - New York Post - May 28th, 2025 [May 28th, 2025]
- Airbnb CEO Brian Chesky says he went to night school for an hour every day with Barack Obama and even turned in homework - Fortune - May 28th, 2025 [May 28th, 2025]
- Exclusive | Malia Obama spent low-key Memorial Day weekend at the Hamptons grungiest dive bar - Page Six - May 28th, 2025 [May 28th, 2025]
- Airbnb's Brian Chesky reveals what he learned from his mentorship with Barack Obama - hola.com - May 28th, 2025 [May 28th, 2025]
- Michelle Obama Walks Back on Podcast Remark'We Don't Have to Keep That In' - Newsweek - May 28th, 2025 [May 28th, 2025]
- Usher, Obama name-dropped in Diddy's trial as sex trafficking case heats up - Fox News - May 28th, 2025 [May 28th, 2025]
- BIN, Obama Foundation Collaborate on Multi-Year Youth Initiative - Radio & Television Business Report - May 28th, 2025 [May 28th, 2025]
- BIN Partners With Obama Foundation In First-Ever Youth Engagement Initiative - Insideradio.com - May 28th, 2025 [May 28th, 2025]
- Life after the White House: where are Malia and Sasha Obama now? - News24 - May 28th, 2025 [May 28th, 2025]
- Obama 'the musical' with White House sex scenes goes viral for all the wrong reasons - dailymail.co.uk - May 28th, 2025 [May 28th, 2025]
- Ex-Obama aide admits he held back on criticizing Biden's decline because he 'wanted him to f------ win' - Fox News - May 28th, 2025 [May 28th, 2025]
- Obama reacts to Biden diagnosis: 'Nobody has done more to find breakthrough treatments for cancer...than Joe' - Fox News - May 19th, 2025 [May 19th, 2025]
- Obama says Biden will fight cancer with 'resolve and grace' - The Hindu - May 19th, 2025 [May 19th, 2025]
- Barack Obama Sends a Message to the Biden Family After Bombshell Cancer Diagnosis - The Daily Beast - May 19th, 2025 [May 19th, 2025]
- Obama, Trump, Harris and other political leaders react to Biden's cancer diagnosis - ABC News - May 19th, 2025 [May 19th, 2025]
- 'There are a lot of treatments': Fmr. Obama health advisor on Biden's cancer prognosis - MSNBC News - May 19th, 2025 [May 19th, 2025]
- Former President Barack Obama to speak at The Connecticut Forum in June - NBC Connecticut - May 19th, 2025 [May 19th, 2025]
- Michelle Obama 2.0 the reinvention of the former first lady - The Guardian - May 19th, 2025 [May 19th, 2025]
- Michelle Obama Jokes Barack Obama Is 'Afraid' of This 1 Thing in Very Relatable Marriage Moment - People.com - May 19th, 2025 [May 19th, 2025]
- Michelle Obama: The No. 1 parenting strategy my mom used to raise confident childrenit prepared me in ways I couldnt imagine - CNBC - May 19th, 2025 [May 19th, 2025]
- Michelle Obama Reveals the 1 Surprising Marriage 'Deal' She Has with Barack Obama - People.com - May 19th, 2025 [May 19th, 2025]
- In Hur Interviews, Biden Forgot Names of Jay Leno, Obama Sec Def, and Thought Africa Was a Country - The Daily Signal - May 19th, 2025 [May 19th, 2025]
- Barack Obama coming to Connecticut this spring - WTNH.com - May 19th, 2025 [May 19th, 2025]
- Letters: The opposition to Donald Trumps immigration crackdown was quiet during the Obama years - Chicago Tribune - May 19th, 2025 [May 19th, 2025]
- Joe Biden prostate cancer diagnosis draws reactions from Trump, Obama, Rubio and other leaders - CBS News - May 19th, 2025 [May 19th, 2025]
- Obama-Appointed Judge Blocks Trumps Bid to Revamp Institute of Peace - The Daily Signal - May 19th, 2025 [May 19th, 2025]
- Michelle Obama calls out Ellen DeGeneres for forcing her to do this on talk show: Im the first lady - New York Post - May 19th, 2025 [May 19th, 2025]
- Barack and Michelle Obama react to Joe Biden's cancer diagnosis - Daily Mail - May 19th, 2025 [May 19th, 2025]
- Barack and Michelle Obama issue joint statement as they react to Joe Biden's cancer diagnosis - hellomagazine.com - May 19th, 2025 [May 19th, 2025]
- Michelle Obama recalls Ellen DeGeneres forcing her to do push-ups on talk show: 'I'm the first lady' - Entertainment Weekly - May 19th, 2025 [May 19th, 2025]
- Joe Biden Breaks Silence On Cancer Diagnosis As Donald Trump, Barack Obama & More React - Access Hollywood - May 19th, 2025 [May 19th, 2025]
- Amidst divorce rumors, here's what Barack Obama posted on Mother's Day - Times of India - May 19th, 2025 [May 19th, 2025]
- Obama divorce rumors have swirled for months. Here's what we know - Snopes - May 19th, 2025 [May 19th, 2025]
- Michelle Obama admits to repeated battle with Barack in candid marriage conversation - Page Six - May 19th, 2025 [May 19th, 2025]
- Michelle Obama Reveals Parenting Move Barack Disagreed With'I Was Wrong' - Newsweek - May 19th, 2025 [May 19th, 2025]
- King Harald and Crown Princess Mette-Marit of Norway Team Up to Host Former President Barack Obama - People.com - May 19th, 2025 [May 19th, 2025]
- Michelle Obama Reveals Secret HGTV ObsessionAnd You'll NEVER Guess Her Favorite Show - House Beautiful - May 19th, 2025 [May 19th, 2025]
- Crime against the republic: Ex-Obama adviser slams Joe Biden aides for massive cover-up of cancer dia - Times of India - May 19th, 2025 [May 19th, 2025]
- No one worked more to find treatments for cancer than Joe: Obama | Biden has been diagnosed with prostate cancer | Inshorts - Inshorts - May 19th, 2025 [May 19th, 2025]
- Joe Biden's 'aggressive' cancer diagnosis explained as Trump and Obama speak out - UNILAD - May 19th, 2025 [May 19th, 2025]
- Amy Poehler Admits to an Embarrassing Moment During Her First Scene with Michelle Obama on 'Parks and Rec' - People.com - May 19th, 2025 [May 19th, 2025]
- Barack Obama bracket 2025: March Madness picks, predictions from former president - USA TODAY - March 22nd, 2025 [March 22nd, 2025]
- Kylie Kelce Has Perfect Response to Hateful Michelle Obama Message - Newsweek - March 22nd, 2025 [March 22nd, 2025]
- Michelle Obama breaks her silence on possibility of 2028 presidential run - PennLive - March 22nd, 2025 [March 22nd, 2025]
- Obamas to have a third child to fight divorce rumors? Michelle Obama breaks silence on expanding their fa - The Times of India - March 22nd, 2025 [March 22nd, 2025]
- Michelle Obama Says Barack Wanted a Third Child but She Wasn't on Board: Were Gonna Get a Crazy One - PEOPLE - March 22nd, 2025 [March 22nd, 2025]
- Michelle Obama Has Two Very Important Reasons Why She Will Never, Ever Run For President - BuzzFeed - March 22nd, 2025 [March 22nd, 2025]
- How a Lunch With Michelle Obama Led to Netflixs The Residence - Washingtonian - March 22nd, 2025 [March 22nd, 2025]
- Insight: The vanishing Obama presidency - The Anniston Star - March 22nd, 2025 [March 22nd, 2025]
- Why Michelle Obama Said No to Having a 3rd Baby With Barack Obama - E! Online - E! NEWS - March 22nd, 2025 [March 22nd, 2025]
- Will USC womens basketball raise another banner? Heres what Barack Obama has to say - AOL - March 22nd, 2025 [March 22nd, 2025]
- Michelle Obama and Kylie Kelce, Both 5'11", Agree That Tall Women Should Get Dibs on the Tall Guys - PEOPLE - March 22nd, 2025 [March 22nd, 2025]
- Former Obama official calls AOC one of Dems' most effective messengers - Fox News - March 22nd, 2025 [March 22nd, 2025]
- Michelle Obama worried about daughters Malia and Sasha turning up on Page Six while in the White House - Page Six - March 22nd, 2025 [March 22nd, 2025]
- Michelle Obama explains why she is not interested in politics after stepping back from spotlight - Page Six - March 22nd, 2025 [March 22nd, 2025]
- Kylie Kelce & Michelle Obama Bond Over Extremely Relatable Habit Theyre Often Teased About - Parade Magazine - March 22nd, 2025 [March 22nd, 2025]
- Michelle Obama reveals Barack Obama's wish for a third child amid divorce rumours: We should have a third - Hindustan Times - March 22nd, 2025 [March 22nd, 2025]
- Michelle Obama reveals the real reason she won't answer Democrat calls to run for president in 2028 - Daily Mail - March 22nd, 2025 [March 22nd, 2025]
- Michelle Obama Is Still Taking the High Road on Social Media - Vanity Fair - March 22nd, 2025 [March 22nd, 2025]
- UN resolution that passed on Obama admin 11th-hour abstention a mistake, US envoy says - JNS.org - March 22nd, 2025 [March 22nd, 2025]
- Michelle Obama reveals Barack's disappointment that she wouldn't have a third child amid divorce rumors - Daily Mail - March 22nd, 2025 [March 22nd, 2025]
- Hey, where's Barack Obama's NCAA bracket predictions in 2025? They were late! - For The Win - March 22nd, 2025 [March 22nd, 2025]
- Michelle Obama Is In Her Rocker-Chic Hair Era and I Am Here For It - Yahoo Life - March 22nd, 2025 [March 22nd, 2025]
- Michelle Obama on why Sasha and Malia don't have other siblings - HOLA! USA - March 22nd, 2025 [March 22nd, 2025]
- This is how Michelle Obama has kept her sanity when dealing with social media - Business Insider - March 22nd, 2025 [March 22nd, 2025]
- Michelle Obama on the Funny Reason She Said No When Barack Wanted Another Child - Harper's BAZAAR - March 22nd, 2025 [March 22nd, 2025]
- Michelle Obama to share unfiltered thoughts in new podcast 'IMO' with older brother - USA TODAY - March 13th, 2025 [March 13th, 2025]
- Is Barack Obama dating Jennifer Aniston? What to know about the rumors - PennLive - March 13th, 2025 [March 13th, 2025]
- IMO with Michelle Obama review cleaning tips and long-winded platitudes - The Times - March 13th, 2025 [March 13th, 2025]
- Michelle Obama to Launch New Podcast With Sibling Craig Robinson - Hollywood Reporter - March 13th, 2025 [March 13th, 2025]
- Tiger Woods Biopic in the Works with Barack and Michelle Obama in Talks to Produce - PEOPLE - March 13th, 2025 [March 13th, 2025]
- Michelle Obama credits brother for convincing her to support Baracks presidential run - Yahoo Entertainment - March 13th, 2025 [March 13th, 2025]
- Former first lady Michelle Obama to visit Austin on Thursday - KVUE.com - March 13th, 2025 [March 13th, 2025]
- Democrats need to get over Michelle Obama - The Telegraph - March 13th, 2025 [March 13th, 2025]
- In 2015, Obama committed the US to achieving UN global goals by 2030. Trump just rejected the goals - The Associated Press - March 13th, 2025 [March 13th, 2025]
- Michelle Obama launches podcast with her brother, Craig Robinson: Heres what to expect - HOLA! USA - March 13th, 2025 [March 13th, 2025]
- IMO with Michelle Obama & Craig Robinson, review: a podcast so shallow it would insult the nearest puddle - The Telegraph - March 13th, 2025 [March 13th, 2025]
- Will Michelle Obama speak about 'divorce' in new podcast with brother? - The Times of India - March 13th, 2025 [March 13th, 2025]