Biden and Putin get on shock!

Joe Biden and Vladimir Putin have not finished their first summit together as bosom pals but they looked pretty pleased with each other. Putin was respectful towards Biden calling him an experienced statesman and admitting he was very different from Donald Trump. I guess that's a start. Not a reset in relations exactly but a new beginning between two guys who have been around a long time and probably realise that there's little point in continuing with insult diplomacy. It's always better to talk rather than berate. Biden is not a berater anyway. He speaks quietly. Putin, too, is no Krushchev. He doesn't bash the table with his shoe. He is more cunning than that. But the only real noise from the summit came when the journalists covering the event were confronted by Russian and American security and there was a right old rampage as reporters pushed and shoved and shouted. When journalists are prevented from being in the right place to cover the big event they give up all sense of dignity and just go mad. Whch is what happened, while Putin and Biden looked on with some amusement and not a lot of sympathy. I have no doubt there were some issues where the two leaders found little consensus and when Biden suggested that Russia was trying to militarise the Arctic Putin said America's fears were unfounded. It's a bit like China denying it is militarising the South China Sea but Putin clearly wanted to keep the language soft and gentle and to avoid any sharp words. He showed little if any sympathy for his home political opponent Navalny, saying it was all his fault that he was currently in prison. But again, Putin kept his voice on an even keel. No finger-waving. So, all in all, a worthwhile summit between two worthy adversaries.