Biden wants Putin to stop trying to influence US elections, stop cyberattacks on US networks emanating from Russia, stop threatening Ukraine’s sovereignty and to release jailed Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny. Putin views US pressure on Navalny and its support for pro-democracy activists in Russia and Belarus as tantamount to interfering in Russian domestic affairs. Biden long ago lost any illusions that Putin would be a cooperative ally. Putin joined Biden’s virtual climate summit last month and the two leaders quickly extended the New START nuclear arms treaty after Biden took office. The official said Biden and his team expect a complex relationship with Russia, one full of strife over many issues.
