{"id":122662,"date":"2021-06-14T17:51:47","date_gmt":"2021-06-15T00:51:47","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/69.46.6.243\/?p=122662"},"modified":"2021-06-14T17:51:47","modified_gmt":"2021-06-15T00:51:47","slug":"president-bidens-press-conference-from-nato-headquarters","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/new.thepinetree.net\/?p=122662","title":{"rendered":"President Biden&#8217;s Press Conference from NATO Headquarters"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Brussels, Belgium&#8230;.Good evening.  Before I turn to today\u2019s meetings, I want to say a short word about our ongoing fight against COVID-19 at home.  We\u2019ve made enormous progress in the United States.  Much of the country is returning to normal, and our economic growth is leading the world, and the number of cases and deaths are dropping dramatically.  But there\u2019s still too many lives being lost.<\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/jkXMSbQHwQQ\" title=\"YouTube video player\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>We\u2019re still averaging, in the last seven days, loss of 370 deaths per day \u2014 370 deaths.  That\u2019s significantly lower than at the peak of this crisis, but it\u2019s still a real tragedy.  We\u2019re approaching a sad milestone: almost 600,000 lost lives because of COVID-19 in America. <\/p>\n<p>My heart goes out to all those who have lost a loved one.  I know that black hole that seems to consume you, that fills up your chest when you lose someone that\u2019s close to you that you adored.<\/p>\n<p>That\u2019s why I continue to say to America: If you\u2019ve not been vaccinated, get vaccinated.  Get vaccinated as soon as possible.  We have plenty of vaccination, plenty of sites.  We have more work to do to beat this virus, and now is not the time to let our guard down.  So, please \u2014 please get vaccinated as soon as possible.  We\u2019ve had enough pain.  Enough pain.<\/p>\n<p>Folks, I know it\u2019s after 9:30, Brussels time \u2014 9:30 p.m., and I\u2019m still at NATO.  You\u2019re all excited about that.  I know.  (Laughter.) <\/p>\n<p>But I\u2019ve had a chance to meet with several leaders recently, and I\u2019ve had calls with others.  It\u2019s been an incredibly productive day here. <\/p>\n<p>I just finished a meeting with President Erdo\u011fan of Turkey.  We had a positive and productive meeting, much of it one-on-one.  We had detailed discussions on how to proceed on a number of \u2014 a number of issues.  Our two countries have big agendas.  Our teams are going to continue our discussions, and I\u2019m confident we\u2019ll make real progress with Turkey and the United States.<\/p>\n<p>But now I want to thank Secretary General Stoltenberg for leading a very successful NATO Summit today.<\/p>\n<p>I had the honor of leading off the discussion today among the 30 nations, and I pointed out that we\u2019re facing a once-in-a-century global health crisis.  At the same time, the democratic values that undergird our Alliance are under increasing pressure both internally and externally.  Russia and China are both seeking to drive a wedge in our transatlantic solidarity.  We\u2019re seeing an increase in malicious cyber activity.<\/p>\n<p>But that our Alliance is the strong foundation on which we can \u2014 our collective security and our shared prosperity can continue to be built. <\/p>\n<p>And I made a point to make clear that the U.S. commitment to Article 5 of the NATO Treaty is rock solid and unshakable.  It\u2019s a sacred commitment.<\/p>\n<p>NATO \u2014 NATO stands together.  That\u2019s how we\u2019ve met every other threat in the past.  It\u2019s our greatest strength as we meet our challenges of the future \u2014 and there are many. <\/p>\n<p>And everyone \u2014 everyone in that room today understood the shared appreciation, quite frankly, that America is back.<\/p>\n<p>We talked about Russia\u2019s aggressive acts that pose a threat to NATO and to our collective security.<\/p>\n<p>That\u2019s why I met with the Bucharest 9 \u2014 the eastern flank allies \u2014 in advance of this summit.  And today I also met with the leaders of the three Baltic states: Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania.<\/p>\n<p>I shared with our Allies that I will convey to Pre- \u2014 what I\u2019ll convey to President Putin: that I\u2019m not looking for conflict with Russia, but that we will respond if Russia continues its harmful activities and that we will not fail to defend the Transatlantic Alliance or stand up for democratic values.<\/p>\n<p>As Allies, we also affirmed our continued support<br \/>\nfor the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine.<\/p>\n<p>We agreed to keep consulting closely on nuclear deterrence, arms control, and strategic stability.<\/p>\n<p>And there was a strong consensus among the leaders in that meeting on Afghanistan.  Our troops are coming home, but we agreed that our diplomatic, economic, and humanitarian commitment to the Afghan people and our support for<br \/>\nthe Afghan National Defense and Security Forces will endure.<\/p>\n<p>And I welcomed our Allies and partners to recognize that counterterrorism \u2014 that counterterrorism efforts must continue to ensure that Afghanistan never again becomes a ca- \u2014 a safe haven for attacks on our countries, even as we take on terrorist networks in the Middle East and Africa.<\/p>\n<p>And I\u2019m deeply gratified that, as an Alliance, we adopted a far-reaching plan to make sure that NATO can meet the challenges<br \/>\nthat we face today and in the future, not yesterday \u2014 the NATO 2030 agenda \u2014 and that we agreed to fully resource that agenda.<\/p>\n<p>The last time NATO put together a strategic plan was back in 2010, when Russia was considered a partner and China wasn\u2019t even mentioned.<\/p>\n<p>We talked about the long-term systemic challenges that China\u2019s activities pose to our collective security today.<\/p>\n<p>We agreed to do more to enhance the resilience of our critical infrastructure around the world, including trusted telecommunications providers, supply chains, and energy networks.<\/p>\n<p>We agreed to enhance our cooperation with our democratic partners in the Indo-Pacific to meet challenges that exist there.<\/p>\n<p>We also endorsed a new cyber defense policy \u2014 NATO\u2019s first in the past seven years \u2014 to improve the collective ability to defend against counter threats from state and nonstate actors against our networks and our critical infrastructure. <\/p>\n<p>And we adopted a Climate Security Action Plan \u2014 which, several years ago, people thought we would never would do \u2014 for reducing emissions from NATO installations and adapting to the security risk of climate change while keeping a sharp \u2014 very sharp on our ability to deter and defend against threats.<\/p>\n<p>And finally, we agreed that among the most important shared missions is renewing and strengthening the resilience of our democracies by pointing out we have to prove to the world and to our own people that democracy can still prevail against the challenges of our time and deliver for the needs of our people.<\/p>\n<p>We have to root out corruption that siphons off our strength; guard against those who would stoke hatred and division for political gain \u2014 this phony populism; invest in strengthening the institutions that underpin and safeguard our cherished democratic values, as well as protecting the free press and independent judiciaries.  All of those run the agenda. <\/p>\n<p>That\u2019s how I\u2019ll prove that democracy and that our Alliance can still prevail against the challenges of our time and deliver for the needs and the needs of our people.<\/p>\n<p>This is going to be looked at 25 years from now as whether or not we stepped up to the challenge, because there\u2019s a lot of \u2014 a lot of autocracies that are counting on them being able to move more rapidly and successfully in an ever-complicated world than democracies can.  We all concluded we\u2019re going to prove them wrong. <\/p>\n<p>And now I\u2019m happy to take some questions. <\/p>\n<p>Cecilia Vega of ABC.<\/p>\n<p>Q    Thank you so much, sir.  Good evening.  You mentioned your sit-down with Vladimir Putin and Russian aggression that came up in your conversations today.  I\u2019d like to ask you two questions, if I may, on that front.  Is it your sense, walking into this meeting, that Americans back home shouldn\u2019t expect much in terms of an outcome?  Could you provide some specifics on what a successful meeting would look like to you?  Are there going to be specific concessions you want Putin to make?<\/p>\n<p>And then, I\u2019ll just give you my follow-up right now.  You\u2019ve met Vladimir Putin before.  What have you learned about him that informs how you approach this sit-down with him?  And what\u2019s your mindset walking into a meeting with a former KGB agent who you\u2019ve said has no soul?<\/p>\n<p>THE PRESIDENT:  I\u2019ll tell you all that when it\u2019s over. <\/p>\n<p>Look, I\u2019ve been doing this a long time.  The last thing anyone would do is negotiate in front of the world press as to how he\u2019s going to approach a critical meeting with another adversary and\/or someone who could be an adversary.  It\u2019s the last thing I\u2019m going to do.<\/p>\n<p>But I will tell you this: I\u2019m going to make clear to President Putin that there are areas where we can cooperate, if he chooses.  And if he chooses not to cooperate and acts in a way that he has in the past, relative to cybersecurity and some other activities, then we will respond.  We will respond in kind. <\/p>\n<p>There need not be \u2014 we should decide where it\u2019s in our mutual interest, in the interest of the world, to cooperate, and see if we can do that.  And the areas where we don\u2019t agree, make it clear what the red lines are.<\/p>\n<p>I have met with him.  He\u2019s bright.  He\u2019s tough.  And I have found that he is a \u2014 as they say, when you used to play ball, \u201ca worthy adversary.\u201d <\/p>\n<p>But the fact is that I will be happy to talk with you when it\u2019s over, and not before, about what the discussion will entail.<\/p>\n<p>Nancy Cordes, CBS.<\/p>\n<p>Q    Thank you, Mr. President.  I also have two questions about Vladimir Putin.  The first is: Have any of the world leaders you\u2019ve met with this week expressed concern that by meeting with President Putin this early in your presidency, that it\u2019ll look like you\u2019re rewarding him?<\/p>\n<p>THE PRESIDENT:  What\u2019s your second question?<\/p>\n<p>Q    The section \u2014 the second question is: What it will mean for the U.S.-Russia relationship if Aleksey Navalny were to die or be killed in prison.<\/p>\n<p>THE PRESIDENT:  Every world leader here, as a member of NATO, that spoke today \u2014 and most of them mentioned it \u2014 thanked me for meeting with Putin now.  Every single one that spoke.  And I think there were probably about 10 or 12 that spoke to it, saying they were happy that I did that and that I was going to do that.  And they thought it was thoroughly appropriate that I do, and I had discussions with them about \u2014 in the open \u2014 about what they thought was important from their perspective and what they thought was not important.<\/p>\n<p>And so the interesting thing is, I know \u2014 and I\u2019m not being critical of the press \u2014 I really mean this; I give you my word \u2014 but, generically, you all thought, \u201cWas Biden meeting him too soon?\u201d  I haven\u2019t found a world leader who doesn\u2019t think it\u2019s not soon \u2014 it\u2019s just soon enough.  Everyone that I\u2019ve spoken to, privately and publicly. <\/p>\n<p>It doesn\u2019t mean there aren\u2019t some out there, but it\u2019s not \u2014 it\u2019s not likely that a head of state is going to stand up in front of 29 other heads of state and say, \u201cBoy, I\u2019m glad you\u2019re doing this,\u201d in effect.  So there is a consensus.  And they thanked me for being willing to talk with them about the meeting and what I was \u2014 what I intended to do.<\/p>\n<p>So, I haven\u2019t found any reluctance.  There may be someone, but not in the open today or in the meetings I privately had as well.<\/p>\n<p>And Navalny\u2019s death would be another indication that Russia has little or no intention of abiding by basic fundamental human rights.  It would be a tragedy.  It would do nothing but hurt his relationships with the rest of the world, in my view, and with me. <\/p>\n<p>Jeff Zeleny, CNN.<\/p>\n<p>Q    Sir, good evening.  Thank you.  In a weekend interview, Vladimir Putin laughed at the suggestion that you had called him a \u201ckiller.\u201d  Is that still your belief, sir, that he is a killer? <\/p>\n<p>And I\u2019ll continue the trend, if you don\u2019t mind, of asking a second question.  Do you believe \u2014 if he does agree to cooperate, then what kind of a challenge do you find yourself in?  How would you ever trust him?  And if Ronald Reagan said \u201ctrust but verify,\u201d what do you say to Vladimir Putin? <\/p>\n<p>THE PRESIDENT:  (Laughs.)  To answer the first question \u2014 (laughs) \u2014 I\u2019m laughing too.<\/p>\n<p>They actually \u2014 I \u2014<\/p>\n<p>Q    So he is a killer?<\/p>\n<p>THE PRESIDENT:  Well, look, I mean, he has made clear that \u2014 the answer is: I believe he has, in the past, essentially acknowledged that he was \u2014 there were certain things that he would do or did do. <\/p>\n<p>But look, when I was asked that question on air, I answered it honestly.  But it\u2019s not much of a \u2014 I don\u2019t think it matters a whole lot, in terms of this next meeting we\u2019re about to have. <\/p>\n<p>The second question was rela- \u2014<\/p>\n<p>Q    (Inaudible.)  How would you ever trust him?  And what is your version of \u201ctrust but verify\u201d?<\/p>\n<p>THE PRESIDENT:  I\u2019d verify first and then trust.  In other words: Everything would have to be shown to be actually occurring.  It\u2019s not about, you know, trusting; it\u2019s about agreeing. <\/p>\n<p>You know, when we \u2014 when you write treaties with your adversaries, you don\u2019t say, \u201cI trust you.\u201d  You say, \u201cThis is what I expect, and if you violate the agreement you made then, we \u2014 the, quote, \u2018The treaty is off.  The agreement is off.&#8217;\u201d <\/p>\n<p>And I\u2019m hoping that \u2014 that President Putin concludes that there is some interest, in terms of his own interests, in changing the perception that the world has of him, in terms of whether or not he will engage in behavior that\u2019s more consistent with what is considered to be appropriate behavior for a head of state.<\/p>\n<p>Anne Gearan, Washington Post. <\/p>\n<p>Q    Thank you, Mr. President.  Here at this meeting and earlier at the G7, you\u2019ve said several times that America is back at Allies\u2019 side, but a lot of those Allies are themselves pretty rattled by what happened on January 6th \u2014 an attempted overturning of your election \u2014 and they may still be alarmed by the continued hold that Donald Trump has over the Republican Party and the rise of nationalist figures like him around the world. <\/p>\n<p>What do you say to those Allies, what have you been saying to them at these meetings about how the next President of the United States can keep any promises you make? <\/p>\n<p>THE PRESIDENT:  What I\u2019m saying is them \u2014 to them is: Watch me.  I mean, I\u2019m not saying anything, quite frankly.  I\u2019m just going out \u2014 people, as I\u2019ve said before, don\u2019t doubt that I mean what I say, and they believe that I keep my commitments when I say it. <\/p>\n<p>I\u2019m not making any promises to anyone that I don\u2019t believe are overwhelmingly likely to be kept.  I think that we\u2019re at a moment where \u2014 I mean, let me put it this way: You may have had a different view, but I think an awful lot of people thought that my showing up at the G7 would not produce any kind of enthusiasm about American leadership and about where America was.  I would suggest that it didn\u2019t turn out that way. <\/p>\n<p>I would suggest that there is a \u2014 the leaders I\u2019m dealing with in NATO and the G7 are leaders who know our recent history; know, generically, the character of the American people; and know where the vast center of the public stands \u2014 not Democrat, Republican \u2014 but who we are.  We\u2019re a decent, honorable nation. <\/p>\n<p>And I think that they have seen things happen, as we have, that shocked them and surprised them that could have happened.  But I think they, like I do, believe the American people are not going to sustain that kind of behavior. <\/p>\n<p>And so, I \u2014 you know, I don\u2019t want to get into the \u2014 the statistics because you know that old phrase of Disraeli\u2019s: \u201cThere\u2019s three kinds of lies: lies, damned lies, and statistics.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>But I think it\u2019s appropriate to say that the Republican Party is vastly diminished in numbers; the leadership of the Republican Party is fractured; and the Trump wing of the party is the bulk of the party, but it makes up a significant minority of the American people. <\/p>\n<p>Now, we\u2019ll see.  We\u2019ll see.  I believe that by us standing up and saying what we believe to be the case, not engaging in the \u2014 the overwhelming hyperbole that gets engaged in by so many today, that we \u2014 I guess that old expression, \u201cThe proof of the pudding is in the eating.\u201d <\/p>\n<p>When we said \u2014 when I said I was going to deal with beating the virus and I was going to focus on that and I was going to get millions of shots in people\u2019s arms, it wasn\u2019t me \u2014 I just knew the American people.  I knew the kind of help I\u2019d get from the Defense Department, from police departments, from \u2014 from the hospitals, from \u2014 from retired docs, from \u2014 I just knew.  And look how rapidly we moved. <\/p>\n<p>Now, we have a group of people who were \u2014 everything from the political rejection of the notion of taking a vaccine, to people who were simply afraid of a needle and everything in between.  And we have a way to go. <\/p>\n<p>But I never doubted that we would be able to generate the kind of support we got and get so many millions of people step up and get vaccinated.  So, I \u2014 I think it is a shock and surprise that what\u2019s happened, in terms of the consequence of President Trump\u2019s phony populism, has \u2014 has happened.  And it is disappointing that so many of my Republican colleagues in the Senate, who I know know better, have been reluctant to take on, for example, an investigation because they\u2019re worried about being primaried. <\/p>\n<p>But, at the end of the day, we\u2019ve been through periods like this in American history before where there has been this reluctance to take a chance on your reelection because of the nature of your party\u2019s politics at the moment. <\/p>\n<p>I think this is passing.  I don\u2019t mean easily passing.  That\u2019s why it\u2019s so important that I succeed in my agenda \u2014 the agenda, whether it\u2019s dealing with the vaccine, the economy, infrastructure.  It\u2019s important that we demonstrate we can make progress and continue to make progress.  And I think we\u2019re going to be able to do that.<\/p>\n<p>So, as I said, the proof will be in where it is, you know, six months from now \u2014 where \u2014 where we are.  But I think you\u2019re going to see that there\u2019s \u2014 that, God willing, we\u2019re going to be making progress, and there\u2019s going to be a coalescing of a lot of Republicans, particularly younger Republicans who are coming up in the party. <\/p>\n<p>THE PRESIDENT:  And last question, Sebastian Smith of AFP.<\/p>\n<p>Q    Thank you.  Thank you, Mr. President.  Ukraine wants a clear \u201cyes\u201d or \u201cno\u201d on getting into the NATO Membership Action Plan.  So, what\u2019s your answer? <\/p>\n<p>And, if I may, a second part to the same question: Well, now that Russia has invaded parts of Ukraine, does that effectively rule out Ukraine ever entering NATO, given that being in NATO would mean the U.S. and NATO having to defend Ukrainians against Russia? <\/p>\n<p>Thank you.<\/p>\n<p>THE PRESIDENT:  The second question is \u2014 the answer is no. <\/p>\n<p>The first question: It depends on whether they meet the criteria.  The fact is they still have to clean up corruption.  The fact is they have to meet other criteria to get into the Action Plan. <\/p>\n<p>And so, it\u2019s \u2014 you know, school is out on that question.  It remains to be seen.  In the meantime, we will do all that we can to pu- \u2014 put Ukraine in the position to be able to continue to resist Russian physical aggression.  And it will not just depend on me whether or not we conclude that \u2014 that Ukraine can become part of NATO; it will depend on the Alliance and how they vote.<\/p>\n<p>But I know, for one thing, there has to be a co- \u2014 they have to convince, and it\u2019s not easy.  I made a speech, years ago, to the Rada saying that \u2014 that Ukraine had an opportunity to do something that\u2019s never occurred in the history of Ukraine: actually generate a democratically elected and not corrupt \u2014 led by oligarchies in any of the regions \u2014 nation.  And I pointed out to them when I made that speech that they will go down in history as the founding fathers of Ukraine if, in fact, they do that.<\/p>\n<p>They have more to do.  But that does not justify \u2014 the fact they have more to do \u2014 Russia taking aggressive action, either in the Donbas or in \u2014 on the sea, or in any part of Ukraine.  And we\u2019re going to put Ukraine in a position to be able to maintain their physical security.<\/p>\n<p>Thank you all so very much.  Sorry you\u2019re all here so late.  Thank you very much.<\/p>\n<p>9:54 P.M. CEST<\/p>\n<p>NATO Headquarters<br \/>\nBrussels, Belgium<\/p>\n<p>9:28 P.M. CEST<\/p>\n<p>THE PRESIDENT:  Good evening.  Before I turn to today\u2019s meetings, I want to say a short word about our ongoing fight against COVID-19 at home.<\/p>\n<p>We\u2019ve made enormous progress in the United States.  Much of the country is returning to normal, and our economic growth is leading the world, and the number of cases and deaths are dropping dramatically.  But there\u2019s still too many lives being lost.<\/p>\n<p>We\u2019re still averaging, in the last seven days, loss of 370 deaths per day \u2014 370 deaths.  That\u2019s significantly lower than at the peak of this crisis, but it\u2019s still a real tragedy.  We\u2019re approaching a sad milestone: almost 600,000 lost lives because of COVID-19 in America. <\/p>\n<p>My heart goes out to all those who have lost a loved one.  I know that black hole that seems to consume you, that fills up your chest when you lose someone that\u2019s close to you that you adored.<\/p>\n<p>That\u2019s why I continue to say to America: If you\u2019ve not been vaccinated, get vaccinated.  Get vaccinated as soon as possible.  We have plenty of vaccination, plenty of sites.  We have more work to do to beat this virus, and now is not the time to let our guard down.  So, please \u2014 please get vaccinated as soon as possible.  We\u2019ve had enough pain.  Enough pain.<\/p>\n<p>Folks, I know it\u2019s after 9:30, Brussels time \u2014 9:30 p.m., and I\u2019m still at NATO.  You\u2019re all excited about that.  I know.  (Laughter.) <\/p>\n<p>But I\u2019ve had a chance to meet with several leaders recently, and I\u2019ve had calls with others.  It\u2019s been an incredibly productive day here. <\/p>\n<p>I just finished a meeting with President Erdo\u011fan of Turkey.  We had a positive and productive meeting, much of it one-on-one.  We had detailed discussions on how to proceed on a number of \u2014 a number of issues.  Our two countries have big agendas.  Our teams are going to continue our discussions, and I\u2019m confident we\u2019ll make real progress with Turkey and the United States.<\/p>\n<p>But now I want to thank Secretary General Stoltenberg for leading a very successful NATO Summit today.<\/p>\n<p>I had the honor of leading off the discussion today among the 30 nations, and I pointed out that we\u2019re facing a once-in-a-century global health crisis.  At the same time, the democratic values that undergird our Alliance are under increasing pressure both internally and externally.  Russia and China are both seeking to drive a wedge in our transatlantic solidarity.  We\u2019re seeing an increase in malicious cyber activity.<\/p>\n<p>But that our Alliance is the strong foundation on which we can \u2014 our collective security and our shared prosperity can continue to be built. <\/p>\n<p>And I made a point to make clear that the U.S. commitment to Article 5 of the NATO Treaty is rock solid and unshakable.  It\u2019s a sacred commitment.<\/p>\n<p>NATO \u2014 NATO stands together.  That\u2019s how we\u2019ve met every other threat in the past.  It\u2019s our greatest strength as we meet our challenges of the future \u2014 and there are many. <\/p>\n<p>And everyone \u2014 everyone in that room today understood the shared appreciation, quite frankly, that America is back.<\/p>\n<p>We talked about Russia\u2019s aggressive acts that pose a threat to NATO and to our collective security.<\/p>\n<p>That\u2019s why I met with the Bucharest 9 \u2014 the eastern flank allies \u2014 in advance of this summit.  And today I also met with the leaders of the three Baltic states: Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania.<\/p>\n<p>I shared with our Allies that I will convey to Pre- \u2014 what I\u2019ll convey to President Putin: that I\u2019m not looking for conflict with Russia, but that we will respond if Russia continues its harmful activities and that we will not fail to defend the Transatlantic Alliance or stand up for democratic values.<\/p>\n<p>As Allies, we also affirmed our continued support<br \/>\nfor the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine.<\/p>\n<p>We agreed to keep consulting closely on nuclear deterrence, arms control, and strategic stability.<\/p>\n<p>And there was a strong consensus among the leaders in that meeting on Afghanistan.  Our troops are coming home, but we agreed that our diplomatic, economic, and humanitarian commitment to the Afghan people and our support for<br \/>\nthe Afghan National Defense and Security Forces will endure.<\/p>\n<p>And I welcomed our Allies and partners to recognize that counterterrorism \u2014 that counterterrorism efforts must continue to ensure that Afghanistan never again becomes a ca- \u2014 a safe haven for attacks on our countries, even as we take on terrorist networks in the Middle East and Africa.<\/p>\n<p>And I\u2019m deeply gratified that, as an Alliance, we adopted a far-reaching plan to make sure that NATO can meet the challenges<br \/>\nthat we face today and in the future, not yesterday \u2014 the NATO 2030 agenda \u2014 and that we agreed to fully resource that agenda.<\/p>\n<p>The last time NATO put together a strategic plan was back in 2010, when Russia was considered a partner and China wasn\u2019t even mentioned.<\/p>\n<p>We talked about the long-term systemic challenges that China\u2019s activities pose to our collective security today.<\/p>\n<p>We agreed to do more to enhance the resilience of our critical infrastructure around the world, including trusted telecommunications providers, supply chains, and energy networks.<\/p>\n<p>We agreed to enhance our cooperation with our democratic partners in the Indo-Pacific to meet challenges that exist there.<\/p>\n<p>We also endorsed a new cyber defense policy \u2014 NATO\u2019s first in the past seven years \u2014 to improve the collective ability to defend against counter threats from state and nonstate actors against our networks and our critical infrastructure. <\/p>\n<p>And we adopted a Climate Security Action Plan \u2014 which, several years ago, people thought we would never would do \u2014 for reducing emissions from NATO installations and adapting to the security risk of climate change while keeping a sharp \u2014 very sharp on our ability to deter and defend against threats.<\/p>\n<p>And finally, we agreed that among the most important shared missions is renewing and strengthening the resilience of our democracies by pointing out we have to prove to the world and to our own people that democracy can still prevail against the challenges of our time and deliver for the needs of our people.<\/p>\n<p>We have to root out corruption that siphons off our strength; guard against those who would stoke hatred and division for political gain \u2014 this phony populism; invest in strengthening the institutions that underpin and safeguard our cherished democratic values, as well as protecting the free press and independent judiciaries.  All of those run the agenda. <\/p>\n<p>That\u2019s how I\u2019ll prove that democracy and that our Alliance can still prevail against the challenges of our time and deliver for the needs and the needs of our people.<\/p>\n<p>This is going to be looked at 25 years from now as whether or not we stepped up to the challenge, because there\u2019s a lot of \u2014 a lot of autocracies that are counting on them being able to move more rapidly and successfully in an ever-complicated world than democracies can.  We all concluded we\u2019re going to prove them wrong. <\/p>\n<p>And now I\u2019m happy to take some questions. <\/p>\n<p>Cecilia Vega of ABC.<\/p>\n<p>Q    Thank you so much, sir.  Good evening.  You mentioned your sit-down with Vladimir Putin and Russian aggression that came up in your conversations today.  I\u2019d like to ask you two questions, if I may, on that front.  Is it your sense, walking into this meeting, that Americans back home shouldn\u2019t expect much in terms of an outcome?  Could you provide some specifics on what a successful meeting would look like to you?  Are there going to be specific concessions you want Putin to make?<\/p>\n<p>And then, I\u2019ll just give you my follow-up right now.  You\u2019ve met Vladimir Putin before.  What have you learned about him that informs how you approach this sit-down with him?  And what\u2019s your mindset walking into a meeting with a former KGB agent who you\u2019ve said has no soul?<\/p>\n<p>THE PRESIDENT:  I\u2019ll tell you all that when it\u2019s over. <\/p>\n<p>Look, I\u2019ve been doing this a long time.  The last thing anyone would do is negotiate in front of the world press as to how he\u2019s going to approach a critical meeting with another adversary and\/or someone who could be an adversary.  It\u2019s the last thing I\u2019m going to do.<\/p>\n<p>But I will tell you this: I\u2019m going to make clear to President Putin that there are areas where we can cooperate, if he chooses.  And if he chooses not to cooperate and acts in a way that he has in the past, relative to cybersecurity and some other activities, then we will respond.  We will respond in kind. <\/p>\n<p>There need not be \u2014 we should decide where it\u2019s in our mutual interest, in the interest of the world, to cooperate, and see if we can do that.  And the areas where we don\u2019t agree, make it clear what the red lines are.<\/p>\n<p>I have met with him.  He\u2019s bright.  He\u2019s tough.  And I have found that he is a \u2014 as they say, when you used to play ball, \u201ca worthy adversary.\u201d <\/p>\n<p>But the fact is that I will be happy to talk with you when it\u2019s over, and not before, about what the discussion will entail.<\/p>\n<p>Nancy Cordes, CBS.<\/p>\n<p>Q    Thank you, Mr. President.  I also have two questions about Vladimir Putin.  The first is: Have any of the world leaders you\u2019ve met with this week expressed concern that by meeting with President Putin this early in your presidency, that it\u2019ll look like you\u2019re rewarding him?<\/p>\n<p>THE PRESIDENT:  What\u2019s your second question?<\/p>\n<p>Q    The section \u2014 the second question is: What it will mean for the U.S.-Russia relationship if Aleksey Navalny were to die or be killed in prison.<\/p>\n<p>THE PRESIDENT:  Every world leader here, as a member of NATO, that spoke today \u2014 and most of them mentioned it \u2014 thanked me for meeting with Putin now.  Every single one that spoke.  And I think there were probably about 10 or 12 that spoke to it, saying they were happy that I did that and that I was going to do that.  And they thought it was thoroughly appropriate that I do, and I had discussions with them about \u2014 in the open \u2014 about what they thought was important from their perspective and what they thought was not important.<\/p>\n<p>And so the interesting thing is, I know \u2014 and I\u2019m not being critical of the press \u2014 I really mean this; I give you my word \u2014 but, generically, you all thought, \u201cWas Biden meeting him too soon?\u201d  I haven\u2019t found a world leader who doesn\u2019t think it\u2019s not soon \u2014 it\u2019s just soon enough.  Everyone that I\u2019ve spoken to, privately and publicly. <\/p>\n<p>It doesn\u2019t mean there aren\u2019t some out there, but it\u2019s not \u2014 it\u2019s not likely that a head of state is going to stand up in front of 29 other heads of state and say, \u201cBoy, I\u2019m glad you\u2019re doing this,\u201d in effect.  So there is a consensus.  And they thanked me for being willing to talk with them about the meeting and what I was \u2014 what I intended to do.<\/p>\n<p>So, I haven\u2019t found any reluctance.  There may be someone, but not in the open today or in the meetings I privately had as well.<\/p>\n<p>And Navalny\u2019s death would be another indication that Russia has little or no intention of abiding by basic fundamental human rights.  It would be a tragedy.  It would do nothing but hurt his relationships with the rest of the world, in my view, and with me. <\/p>\n<p>Jeff Zeleny, CNN.<\/p>\n<p>Q    Sir, good evening.  Thank you.  In a weekend interview, Vladimir Putin laughed at the suggestion that you had called him a \u201ckiller.\u201d  Is that still your belief, sir, that he is a killer? <\/p>\n<p>And I\u2019ll continue the trend, if you don\u2019t mind, of asking a second question.  Do you believe \u2014 if he does agree to cooperate, then what kind of a challenge do you find yourself in?  How would you ever trust him?  And if Ronald Reagan said \u201ctrust but verify,\u201d what do you say to Vladimir Putin? <\/p>\n<p>THE PRESIDENT:  (Laughs.)  To answer the first question \u2014 (laughs) \u2014 I\u2019m laughing too.<\/p>\n<p>They actually \u2014 I \u2014<\/p>\n<p>Q    So he is a killer?<\/p>\n<p>THE PRESIDENT:  Well, look, I mean, he has made clear that \u2014 the answer is: I believe he has, in the past, essentially acknowledged that he was \u2014 there were certain things that he would do or did do. <\/p>\n<p>But look, when I was asked that question on air, I answered it honestly.  But it\u2019s not much of a \u2014 I don\u2019t think it matters a whole lot, in terms of this next meeting we\u2019re about to have. <\/p>\n<p>The second question was rela- \u2014<\/p>\n<p>Q    (Inaudible.)  How would you ever trust him?  And what is your version of \u201ctrust but verify\u201d?<\/p>\n<p>THE PRESIDENT:  I\u2019d verify first and then trust.  In other words: Everything would have to be shown to be actually occurring.  It\u2019s not about, you know, trusting; it\u2019s about agreeing. <\/p>\n<p>You know, when we \u2014 when you write treaties with your adversaries, you don\u2019t say, \u201cI trust you.\u201d  You say, \u201cThis is what I expect, and if you violate the agreement you made then, we \u2014 the, quote, \u2018The treaty is off.  The agreement is off.&#8217;\u201d <\/p>\n<p>And I\u2019m hoping that \u2014 that President Putin concludes that there is some interest, in terms of his own interests, in changing the perception that the world has of him, in terms of whether or not he will engage in behavior that\u2019s more consistent with what is considered to be appropriate behavior for a head of state.<\/p>\n<p>Anne Gearan, Washington Post. <\/p>\n<p>Q    Thank you, Mr. President.  Here at this meeting and earlier at the G7, you\u2019ve said several times that America is back at Allies\u2019 side, but a lot of those Allies are themselves pretty rattled by what happened on January 6th \u2014 an attempted overturning of your election \u2014 and they may still be alarmed by the continued hold that Donald Trump has over the Republican Party and the rise of nationalist figures like him around the world. <\/p>\n<p>What do you say to those Allies, what have you been saying to them at these meetings about how the next President of the United States can keep any promises you make? <\/p>\n<p>THE PRESIDENT:  What I\u2019m saying is them \u2014 to them is: Watch me.  I mean, I\u2019m not saying anything, quite frankly.  I\u2019m just going out \u2014 people, as I\u2019ve said before, don\u2019t doubt that I mean what I say, and they believe that I keep my commitments when I say it. <\/p>\n<p>I\u2019m not making any promises to anyone that I don\u2019t believe are overwhelmingly likely to be kept.  I think that we\u2019re at a moment where \u2014 I mean, let me put it this way: You may have had a different view, but I think an awful lot of people thought that my showing up at the G7 would not produce any kind of enthusiasm about American leadership and about where America was.  I would suggest that it didn\u2019t turn out that way. <\/p>\n<p>I would suggest that there is a \u2014 the leaders I\u2019m dealing with in NATO and the G7 are leaders who know our recent history; know, generically, the character of the American people; and know where the vast center of the public stands \u2014 not Democrat, Republican \u2014 but who we are.  We\u2019re a decent, honorable nation. <\/p>\n<p>And I think that they have seen things happen, as we have, that shocked them and surprised them that could have happened.  But I think they, like I do, believe the American people are not going to sustain that kind of behavior. <\/p>\n<p>And so, I \u2014 you know, I don\u2019t want to get into the \u2014 the statistics because you know that old phrase of Disraeli\u2019s: \u201cThere\u2019s three kinds of lies: lies, damned lies, and statistics.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>But I think it\u2019s appropriate to say that the Republican Party is vastly diminished in numbers; the leadership of the Republican Party is fractured; and the Trump wing of the party is the bulk of the party, but it makes up a significant minority of the American people. <\/p>\n<p>Now, we\u2019ll see.  We\u2019ll see.  I believe that by us standing up and saying what we believe to be the case, not engaging in the \u2014 the overwhelming hyperbole that gets engaged in by so many today, that we \u2014 I guess that old expression, \u201cThe proof of the pudding is in the eating.\u201d <\/p>\n<p>When we said \u2014 when I said I was going to deal with beating the virus and I was going to focus on that and I was going to get millions of shots in people\u2019s arms, it wasn\u2019t me \u2014 I just knew the American people.  I knew the kind of help I\u2019d get from the Defense Department, from police departments, from \u2014 from the hospitals, from \u2014 from retired docs, from \u2014 I just knew.  And look how rapidly we moved. <\/p>\n<p>Now, we have a group of people who were \u2014 everything from the political rejection of the notion of taking a vaccine, to people who were simply afraid of a needle and everything in between.  And we have a way to go. <\/p>\n<p>But I never doubted that we would be able to generate the kind of support we got and get so many millions of people step up and get vaccinated.  So, I \u2014 I think it is a shock and surprise that what\u2019s happened, in terms of the consequence of President Trump\u2019s phony populism, has \u2014 has happened.  And it is disappointing that so many of my Republican colleagues in the Senate, who I know know better, have been reluctant to take on, for example, an investigation because they\u2019re worried about being primaried. <\/p>\n<p>But, at the end of the day, we\u2019ve been through periods like this in American history before where there has been this reluctance to take a chance on your reelection because of the nature of your party\u2019s politics at the moment. <\/p>\n<p>I think this is passing.  I don\u2019t mean easily passing.  That\u2019s why it\u2019s so important that I succeed in my agenda \u2014 the agenda, whether it\u2019s dealing with the vaccine, the economy, infrastructure.  It\u2019s important that we demonstrate we can make progress and continue to make progress.  And I think we\u2019re going to be able to do that.<\/p>\n<p>So, as I said, the proof will be in where it is, you know, six months from now \u2014 where \u2014 where we are.  But I think you\u2019re going to see that there\u2019s \u2014 that, God willing, we\u2019re going to be making progress, and there\u2019s going to be a coalescing of a lot of Republicans, particularly younger Republicans who are coming up in the party. <\/p>\n<p>THE PRESIDENT:  And last question, Sebastian Smith of AFP.<\/p>\n<p>Q    Thank you.  Thank you, Mr. President.  Ukraine wants a clear \u201cyes\u201d or \u201cno\u201d on getting into the NATO Membership Action Plan.  So, what\u2019s your answer? <\/p>\n<p>And, if I may, a second part to the same question: Well, now that Russia has invaded parts of Ukraine, does that effectively rule out Ukraine ever entering NATO, given that being in NATO would mean the U.S. and NATO having to defend Ukrainians against Russia? <\/p>\n<p>Thank you.<\/p>\n<p>THE PRESIDENT:  The second question is \u2014 the answer is no. <\/p>\n<p>The first question: It depends on whether they meet the criteria.  The fact is they still have to clean up corruption.  The fact is they have to meet other criteria to get into the Action Plan. <\/p>\n<p>And so, it\u2019s \u2014 you know, school is out on that question.  It remains to be seen.  In the meantime, we will do all that we can to pu- \u2014 put Ukraine in the position to be able to continue to resist Russian physical aggression.  And it will not just depend on me whether or not we conclude that \u2014 that Ukraine can become part of NATO; it will depend on the Alliance and how they vote.<\/p>\n<p>But I know, for one thing, there has to be a co- \u2014 they have to convince, and it\u2019s not easy.  I made a speech, years ago, to the Rada saying that \u2014 that Ukraine had an opportunity to do something that\u2019s never occurred in the history of Ukraine: actually generate a democratically elected and not corrupt \u2014 led by oligarchies in any of the regions \u2014 nation.  And I pointed out to them when I made that speech that they will go down in history as the founding fathers of Ukraine if, in fact, they do that.<\/p>\n<p>They have more to do.  But that does not justify \u2014 the fact they have more to do \u2014 Russia taking aggressive action, either in the Donbas or in \u2014 on the sea, or in any part of Ukraine.  And we\u2019re going to put Ukraine in a position to be able to maintain their physical security.<\/p>\n<p>Thank you all so very much.  Sorry you\u2019re all here so late.  Thank you very much.<\/p>\n<p>9:54 P.M. CEST<\/p>\n<p>NATO Headquarters<br \/>\nBrussels, Belgium<\/p>\n<p>9:28 P.M. CEST<\/p>\n<p>THE PRESIDENT:  Good evening.  Before I turn to today\u2019s meetings, I want to say a short word about our ongoing fight against COVID-19 at home.<\/p>\n<p>We\u2019ve made enormous progress in the United States.  Much of the country is returning to normal, and our economic growth is leading the world, and the number of cases and deaths are dropping dramatically.  But there\u2019s still too many lives being lost.<\/p>\n<p>We\u2019re still averaging, in the last seven days, loss of 370 deaths per day \u2014 370 deaths.  That\u2019s significantly lower than at the peak of this crisis, but it\u2019s still a real tragedy.  We\u2019re approaching a sad milestone: almost 600,000 lost lives because of COVID-19 in America. <\/p>\n<p>My heart goes out to all those who have lost a loved one.  I know that black hole that seems to consume you, that fills up your chest when you lose someone that\u2019s close to you that you adored.<\/p>\n<p>That\u2019s why I continue to say to America: If you\u2019ve not been vaccinated, get vaccinated.  Get vaccinated as soon as possible.  We have plenty of vaccination, plenty of sites.  We have more work to do to beat this virus, and now is not the time to let our guard down.  So, please \u2014 please get vaccinated as soon as possible.  We\u2019ve had enough pain.  Enough pain.<\/p>\n<p>Folks, I know it\u2019s after 9:30, Brussels time \u2014 9:30 p.m., and I\u2019m still at NATO.  You\u2019re all excited about that.  I know.  (Laughter.) <\/p>\n<p>But I\u2019ve had a chance to meet with several leaders recently, and I\u2019ve had calls with others.  It\u2019s been an incredibly productive day here. <\/p>\n<p>I just finished a meeting with President Erdo\u011fan of Turkey.  We had a positive and productive meeting, much of it one-on-one.  We had detailed discussions on how to proceed on a number of \u2014 a number of issues.  Our two countries have big agendas.  Our teams are going to continue our discussions, and I\u2019m confident we\u2019ll make real progress with Turkey and the United States.<\/p>\n<p>But now I want to thank Secretary General Stoltenberg for leading a very successful NATO Summit today.<\/p>\n<p>I had the honor of leading off the discussion today among the 30 nations, and I pointed out that we\u2019re facing a once-in-a-century global health crisis.  At the same time, the democratic values that undergird our Alliance are under increasing pressure both internally and externally.  Russia and China are both seeking to drive a wedge in our transatlantic solidarity.  We\u2019re seeing an increase in malicious cyber activity.<\/p>\n<p>But that our Alliance is the strong foundation on which we can \u2014 our collective security and our shared prosperity can continue to be built. <\/p>\n<p>And I made a point to make clear that the U.S. commitment to Article 5 of the NATO Treaty is rock solid and unshakable.  It\u2019s a sacred commitment.<\/p>\n<p>NATO \u2014 NATO stands together.  That\u2019s how we\u2019ve met every other threat in the past.  It\u2019s our greatest strength as we meet our challenges of the future \u2014 and there are many. <\/p>\n<p>And everyone \u2014 everyone in that room today understood the shared appreciation, quite frankly, that America is back.<\/p>\n<p>We talked about Russia\u2019s aggressive acts that pose a threat to NATO and to our collective security.<\/p>\n<p>That\u2019s why I met with the Bucharest 9 \u2014 the eastern flank allies \u2014 in advance of this summit.  And today I also met with the leaders of the three Baltic states: Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania.<\/p>\n<p>I shared with our Allies that I will convey to Pre- \u2014 what I\u2019ll convey to President Putin: that I\u2019m not looking for conflict with Russia, but that we will respond if Russia continues its harmful activities and that we will not fail to defend the Transatlantic Alliance or stand up for democratic values.<\/p>\n<p>As Allies, we also affirmed our continued support<br \/>\nfor the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine.<\/p>\n<p>We agreed to keep consulting closely on nuclear deterrence, arms control, and strategic stability.<\/p>\n<p>And there was a strong consensus among the leaders in that meeting on Afghanistan.  Our troops are coming home, but we agreed that our diplomatic, economic, and humanitarian commitment to the Afghan people and our support for<br \/>\nthe Afghan National Defense and Security Forces will endure.<\/p>\n<p>And I welcomed our Allies and partners to recognize that counterterrorism \u2014 that counterterrorism efforts must continue to ensure that Afghanistan never again becomes a ca- \u2014 a safe haven for attacks on our countries, even as we take on terrorist networks in the Middle East and Africa.<\/p>\n<p>And I\u2019m deeply gratified that, as an Alliance, we adopted a far-reaching plan to make sure that NATO can meet the challenges<br \/>\nthat we face today and in the future, not yesterday \u2014 the NATO 2030 agenda \u2014 and that we agreed to fully resource that agenda.<\/p>\n<p>The last time NATO put together a strategic plan was back in 2010, when Russia was considered a partner and China wasn\u2019t even mentioned.<\/p>\n<p>We talked about the long-term systemic challenges that China\u2019s activities pose to our collective security today.<\/p>\n<p>We agreed to do more to enhance the resilience of our critical infrastructure around the world, including trusted telecommunications providers, supply chains, and energy networks.<\/p>\n<p>We agreed to enhance our cooperation with our democratic partners in the Indo-Pacific to meet challenges that exist there.<\/p>\n<p>We also endorsed a new cyber defense policy \u2014 NATO\u2019s first in the past seven years \u2014 to improve the collective ability to defend against counter threats from state and nonstate actors against our networks and our critical infrastructure. <\/p>\n<p>And we adopted a Climate Security Action Plan \u2014 which, several years ago, people thought we would never would do \u2014 for reducing emissions from NATO installations and adapting to the security risk of climate change while keeping a sharp \u2014 very sharp on our ability to deter and defend against threats.<\/p>\n<p>And finally, we agreed that among the most important shared missions is renewing and strengthening the resilience of our democracies by pointing out we have to prove to the world and to our own people that democracy can still prevail against the challenges of our time and deliver for the needs of our people.<\/p>\n<p>We have to root out corruption that siphons off our strength; guard against those who would stoke hatred and division for political gain \u2014 this phony populism; invest in strengthening the institutions that underpin and safeguard our cherished democratic values, as well as protecting the free press and independent judiciaries.  All of those run the agenda. <\/p>\n<p>That\u2019s how I\u2019ll prove that democracy and that our Alliance can still prevail against the challenges of our time and deliver for the needs and the needs of our people.<\/p>\n<p>This is going to be looked at 25 years from now as whether or not we stepped up to the challenge, because there\u2019s a lot of \u2014 a lot of autocracies that are counting on them being able to move more rapidly and successfully in an ever-complicated world than democracies can.  We all concluded we\u2019re going to prove them wrong. <\/p>\n<p>And now I\u2019m happy to take some questions. <\/p>\n<p>Cecilia Vega of ABC.<\/p>\n<p>Q    Thank you so much, sir.  Good evening.  You mentioned your sit-down with Vladimir Putin and Russian aggression that came up in your conversations today.  I\u2019d like to ask you two questions, if I may, on that front.  Is it your sense, walking into this meeting, that Americans back home shouldn\u2019t expect much in terms of an outcome?  Could you provide some specifics on what a successful meeting would look like to you?  Are there going to be specific concessions you want Putin to make?<\/p>\n<p>And then, I\u2019ll just give you my follow-up right now.  You\u2019ve met Vladimir Putin before.  What have you learned about him that informs how you approach this sit-down with him?  And what\u2019s your mindset walking into a meeting with a former KGB agent who you\u2019ve said has no soul?<\/p>\n<p>THE PRESIDENT:  I\u2019ll tell you all that when it\u2019s over. <\/p>\n<p>Look, I\u2019ve been doing this a long time.  The last thing anyone would do is negotiate in front of the world press as to how he\u2019s going to approach a critical meeting with another adversary and\/or someone who could be an adversary.  It\u2019s the last thing I\u2019m going to do.<\/p>\n<p>But I will tell you this: I\u2019m going to make clear to President Putin that there are areas where we can cooperate, if he chooses.  And if he chooses not to cooperate and acts in a way that he has in the past, relative to cybersecurity and some other activities, then we will respond.  We will respond in kind. <\/p>\n<p>There need not be \u2014 we should decide where it\u2019s in our mutual interest, in the interest of the world, to cooperate, and see if we can do that.  And the areas where we don\u2019t agree, make it clear what the red lines are.<\/p>\n<p>I have met with him.  He\u2019s bright.  He\u2019s tough.  And I have found that he is a \u2014 as they say, when you used to play ball, \u201ca worthy adversary.\u201d <\/p>\n<p>But the fact is that I will be happy to talk with you when it\u2019s over, and not before, about what the discussion will entail.<\/p>\n<p>Nancy Cordes, CBS.<\/p>\n<p>Q    Thank you, Mr. President.  I also have two questions about Vladimir Putin.  The first is: Have any of the world leaders you\u2019ve met with this week expressed concern that by meeting with President Putin this early in your presidency, that it\u2019ll look like you\u2019re rewarding him?<\/p>\n<p>THE PRESIDENT:  What\u2019s your second question?<\/p>\n<p>Q    The section \u2014 the second question is: What it will mean for the U.S.-Russia relationship if Aleksey Navalny were to die or be killed in prison.<\/p>\n<p>THE PRESIDENT:  Every world leader here, as a member of NATO, that spoke today \u2014 and most of them mentioned it \u2014 thanked me for meeting with Putin now.  Every single one that spoke.  And I think there were probably about 10 or 12 that spoke to it, saying they were happy that I did that and that I was going to do that.  And they thought it was thoroughly appropriate that I do, and I had discussions with them about \u2014 in the open \u2014 about what they thought was important from their perspective and what they thought was not important.<\/p>\n<p>And so the interesting thing is, I know \u2014 and I\u2019m not being critical of the press \u2014 I really mean this; I give you my word \u2014 but, generically, you all thought, \u201cWas Biden meeting him too soon?\u201d  I haven\u2019t found a world leader who doesn\u2019t think it\u2019s not soon \u2014 it\u2019s just soon enough.  Everyone that I\u2019ve spoken to, privately and publicly. <\/p>\n<p>It doesn\u2019t mean there aren\u2019t some out there, but it\u2019s not \u2014 it\u2019s not likely that a head of state is going to stand up in front of 29 other heads of state and say, \u201cBoy, I\u2019m glad you\u2019re doing this,\u201d in effect.  So there is a consensus.  And they thanked me for being willing to talk with them about the meeting and what I was \u2014 what I intended to do.<\/p>\n<p>So, I haven\u2019t found any reluctance.  There may be someone, but not in the open today or in the meetings I privately had as well.<\/p>\n<p>And Navalny\u2019s death would be another indication that Russia has little or no intention of abiding by basic fundamental human rights.  It would be a tragedy.  It would do nothing but hurt his relationships with the rest of the world, in my view, and with me. <\/p>\n<p>Jeff Zeleny, CNN.<\/p>\n<p>Q    Sir, good evening.  Thank you.  In a weekend interview, Vladimir Putin laughed at the suggestion that you had called him a \u201ckiller.\u201d  Is that still your belief, sir, that he is a killer? <\/p>\n<p>And I\u2019ll continue the trend, if you don\u2019t mind, of asking a second question.  Do you believe \u2014 if he does agree to cooperate, then what kind of a challenge do you find yourself in?  How would you ever trust him?  And if Ronald Reagan said \u201ctrust but verify,\u201d what do you say to Vladimir Putin? <\/p>\n<p>THE PRESIDENT:  (Laughs.)  To answer the first question \u2014 (laughs) \u2014 I\u2019m laughing too.<\/p>\n<p>They actually \u2014 I \u2014<\/p>\n<p>Q    So he is a killer?<\/p>\n<p>THE PRESIDENT:  Well, look, I mean, he has made clear that \u2014 the answer is: I believe he has, in the past, essentially acknowledged that he was \u2014 there were certain things that he would do or did do. <\/p>\n<p>But look, when I was asked that question on air, I answered it honestly.  But it\u2019s not much of a \u2014 I don\u2019t think it matters a whole lot, in terms of this next meeting we\u2019re about to have. <\/p>\n<p>The second question was rela- \u2014<\/p>\n<p>Q    (Inaudible.)  How would you ever trust him?  And what is your version of \u201ctrust but verify\u201d?<\/p>\n<p>THE PRESIDENT:  I\u2019d verify first and then trust.  In other words: Everything would have to be shown to be actually occurring.  It\u2019s not about, you know, trusting; it\u2019s about agreeing. <\/p>\n<p>You know, when we \u2014 when you write treaties with your adversaries, you don\u2019t say, \u201cI trust you.\u201d  You say, \u201cThis is what I expect, and if you violate the agreement you made then, we \u2014 the, quote, \u2018The treaty is off.  The agreement is off.&#8217;\u201d <\/p>\n<p>And I\u2019m hoping that \u2014 that President Putin concludes that there is some interest, in terms of his own interests, in changing the perception that the world has of him, in terms of whether or not he will engage in behavior that\u2019s more consistent with what is considered to be appropriate behavior for a head of state.<\/p>\n<p>Anne Gearan, Washington Post. <\/p>\n<p>Q    Thank you, Mr. President.  Here at this meeting and earlier at the G7, you\u2019ve said several times that America is back at Allies\u2019 side, but a lot of those Allies are themselves pretty rattled by what happened on January 6th \u2014 an attempted overturning of your election \u2014 and they may still be alarmed by the continued hold that Donald Trump has over the Republican Party and the rise of nationalist figures like him around the world. <\/p>\n<p>What do you say to those Allies, what have you been saying to them at these meetings about how the next President of the United States can keep any promises you make? <\/p>\n<p>THE PRESIDENT:  What I\u2019m saying is them \u2014 to them is: Watch me.  I mean, I\u2019m not saying anything, quite frankly.  I\u2019m just going out \u2014 people, as I\u2019ve said before, don\u2019t doubt that I mean what I say, and they believe that I keep my commitments when I say it. <\/p>\n<p>I\u2019m not making any promises to anyone that I don\u2019t believe are overwhelmingly likely to be kept.  I think that we\u2019re at a moment where \u2014 I mean, let me put it this way: You may have had a different view, but I think an awful lot of people thought that my showing up at the G7 would not produce any kind of enthusiasm about American leadership and about where America was.  I would suggest that it didn\u2019t turn out that way. <\/p>\n<p>I would suggest that there is a \u2014 the leaders I\u2019m dealing with in NATO and the G7 are leaders who know our recent history; know, generically, the character of the American people; and know where the vast center of the public stands \u2014 not Democrat, Republican \u2014 but who we are.  We\u2019re a decent, honorable nation. <\/p>\n<p>And I think that they have seen things happen, as we have, that shocked them and surprised them that could have happened.  But I think they, like I do, believe the American people are not going to sustain that kind of behavior. <\/p>\n<p>And so, I \u2014 you know, I don\u2019t want to get into the \u2014 the statistics because you know that old phrase of Disraeli\u2019s: \u201cThere\u2019s three kinds of lies: lies, damned lies, and statistics.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>But I think it\u2019s appropriate to say that the Republican Party is vastly diminished in numbers; the leadership of the Republican Party is fractured; and the Trump wing of the party is the bulk of the party, but it makes up a significant minority of the American people. <\/p>\n<p>Now, we\u2019ll see.  We\u2019ll see.  I believe that by us standing up and saying what we believe to be the case, not engaging in the \u2014 the overwhelming hyperbole that gets engaged in by so many today, that we \u2014 I guess that old expression, \u201cThe proof of the pudding is in the eating.\u201d <\/p>\n<p>When we said \u2014 when I said I was going to deal with beating the virus and I was going to focus on that and I was going to get millions of shots in people\u2019s arms, it wasn\u2019t me \u2014 I just knew the American people.  I knew the kind of help I\u2019d get from the Defense Department, from police departments, from \u2014 from the hospitals, from \u2014 from retired docs, from \u2014 I just knew.  And look how rapidly we moved. <\/p>\n<p>Now, we have a group of people who were \u2014 everything from the political rejection of the notion of taking a vaccine, to people who were simply afraid of a needle and everything in between.  And we have a way to go. <\/p>\n<p>But I never doubted that we would be able to generate the kind of support we got and get so many millions of people step up and get vaccinated.  So, I \u2014 I think it is a shock and surprise that what\u2019s happened, in terms of the consequence of President Trump\u2019s phony populism, has \u2014 has happened.  And it is disappointing that so many of my Republican colleagues in the Senate, who I know know better, have been reluctant to take on, for example, an investigation because they\u2019re worried about being primaried. <\/p>\n<p>But, at the end of the day, we\u2019ve been through periods like this in American history before where there has been this reluctance to take a chance on your reelection because of the nature of your party\u2019s politics at the moment. <\/p>\n<p>I think this is passing.  I don\u2019t mean easily passing.  That\u2019s why it\u2019s so important that I succeed in my agenda \u2014 the agenda, whether it\u2019s dealing with the vaccine, the economy, infrastructure.  It\u2019s important that we demonstrate we can make progress and continue to make progress.  And I think we\u2019re going to be able to do that.<\/p>\n<p>So, as I said, the proof will be in where it is, you know, six months from now \u2014 where \u2014 where we are.  But I think you\u2019re going to see that there\u2019s \u2014 that, God willing, we\u2019re going to be making progress, and there\u2019s going to be a coalescing of a lot of Republicans, particularly younger Republicans who are coming up in the party. <\/p>\n<p>THE PRESIDENT:  And last question, Sebastian Smith of AFP.<\/p>\n<p>Q    Thank you.  Thank you, Mr. President.  Ukraine wants a clear \u201cyes\u201d or \u201cno\u201d on getting into the NATO Membership Action Plan.  So, what\u2019s your answer? <\/p>\n<p>And, if I may, a second part to the same question: Well, now that Russia has invaded parts of Ukraine, does that effectively rule out Ukraine ever entering NATO, given that being in NATO would mean the U.S. and NATO having to defend Ukrainians against Russia? <\/p>\n<p>Thank you.<\/p>\n<p>THE PRESIDENT:  The second question is \u2014 the answer is no. <\/p>\n<p>The first question: It depends on whether they meet the criteria.  The fact is they still have to clean up corruption.  The fact is they have to meet other criteria to get into the Action Plan. <\/p>\n<p>And so, it\u2019s \u2014 you know, school is out on that question.  It remains to be seen.  In the meantime, we will do all that we can to pu- \u2014 put Ukraine in the position to be able to continue to resist Russian physical aggression.  And it will not just depend on me whether or not we conclude that \u2014 that Ukraine can become part of NATO; it will depend on the Alliance and how they vote.<\/p>\n<p>But I know, for one thing, there has to be a co- \u2014 they have to convince, and it\u2019s not easy.  I made a speech, years ago, to the Rada saying that \u2014 that Ukraine had an opportunity to do something that\u2019s never occurred in the history of Ukraine: actually generate a democratically elected and not corrupt \u2014 led by oligarchies in any of the regions \u2014 nation.  And I pointed out to them when I made that speech that they will go down in history as the founding fathers of Ukraine if, in fact, they do that.<\/p>\n<p>They have more to do.  But that does not justify \u2014 the fact they have more to do \u2014 Russia taking aggressive action, either in the Donbas or in \u2014 on the sea, or in any part of Ukraine.  And we\u2019re going to put Ukraine in a position to be able to maintain their physical security.<\/p>\n<p>Thank you all so very much.  Sorry you\u2019re all here so late.  Thank you very much.<\/p>\n<p>9:54 P.M. CEST<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Brussels, Belgium&#8230;.Good evening. Before I turn to today\u2019s meetings, I want to say a short word about our ongoing fight against COVID-19 at home. We\u2019ve made enormous progress in the United States. Much of the country is returning to normal, and our economic growth is leading the world, and the number of cases and deaths [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":122663,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_cbd_carousel_blocks":"[]","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[20,5,1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-122662","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-featured","category-government","category-news","last_archivepost"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/new.thepinetree.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Fullscreen-capture-6142021-54851-PM.jpg","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/new.thepinetree.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/122662","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/new.thepinetree.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/new.thepinetree.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/new.thepinetree.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/new.thepinetree.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=122662"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/new.thepinetree.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/122662\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/new.thepinetree.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/122663"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/new.thepinetree.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=122662"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/new.thepinetree.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=122662"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/new.thepinetree.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=122662"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}