An expanded summit between US Presidents Joe Biden and Russian Vladimir Putin ended in the Swiss city of Geneva, after the mini-summit between them ended, in light of expectations from both sides that there would be no breakthrough in the contentious issues between the two countries.

The summit is being held in circumstances in which the relations of the two countries are going through their worst phases, according to US and Russian officials.

The two sides will discuss several issues, foremost of which are cyber security, and various security, political and economic files that are in dispute between Moscow and Washington.

At the beginning of the meeting, the Russian president expressed his hope that his summit with the US president would be fruitful, while Biden said that a face-to-face meeting is always the best way.

Al-Jazeera correspondent in Geneva, Zaur Shug, said that the expanded summit is taking place in the presence of most members of the Russian and American delegations, and the Syrian and Ukrainian files are discussed, and according to the available information, there are some consensuses between the Russian and American sides regarding easing the diplomatic confrontation, allowing the return of the American ambassador to Moscow. John Sullivan, and the Russian Ambassador to Washington Anatoly Antonov, and to reconsider the two countries' decision to close a number of diplomatic representations in recent years due to the deterioration of political relations between them.

The correspondent added that it is unlikely that there will be a breakthrough in the positions of the two countries regarding the Ukrainian file;

But there may be consensus on the Syrian file, and regarding other files, there is an absolute silence, and the summit may come out with an agreement to start a strategic dialogue between the two parties regarding armaments treaties.

The reporter stated that there is talk of a third meeting between Presidents Putin and Biden;

But it is certain that the two parties will not sign any agreement or documents during the Geneva summit.

Biden preparing for the summit

Al-Jazeera correspondent in Geneva, Wajd Waqfi, said that some American sources mentioned that President Biden was keen, during the preparation of the summit with Putin, to listen to officials in the administration of former President Donald Trump, who advised him to adopt frankness and not be lenient with Putin in raising the controversial files between Washington and Moscow. Specifically, the alleged Russian interference in the US presidential elections, and the cyber-attacks on US institutions, which Moscow accuses of being behind.

Al-Jazeera correspondent added that there is a blackout regarding the disclosure of the course of the Russian-American summit on the thorny issues between the two countries, and the correspondent said that the Biden administration is keen to establish a framework for relations with Russia in the future, by launching a strategic dialogue to discuss the outstanding issues between them.

Al-Jazeera correspondent stated that neither side expects to reach agreements during this summit.

Putting red lines

Earlier, Biden pledged to define what he described as the red lines of his Russian counterpart, pointing out that his country does not seek confrontation with Russia;

But she will respond if she suffers any harm from them.

For his part, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov announced that the US rhetoric about deterring Russia and making it pay for its actions will not cast a positive shadow on the summit in Geneva.

In turn, a senior official in the Biden administration said that he does not expect great results from the first summit of the two presidents.

Biden pledged to define what he described as the red lines of his Russian counterpart, pointing out that his country does not seek confrontation with Russia;

But she will respond if she suffers any harm from them.

Biden has adopted a firm tone in recent days toward the Kremlin strongman, to better contrast the volatility and ambiguity of his Republican predecessor Trump.

And Putin had recently said in a television interview when he was asked about the American president that Biden is a professional politician, and he is the son of the American political and diplomatic establishment, unlike former US President Donald Trump, whom Trump described as intelligent;

But he is not professional in politics.

For his part, Biden said earlier when asked about his opinion of Putin that the latter is a brilliant and difficult person.

Al-Jazeera correspondent in Geneva stated that the two presidents will not hold a joint press conference after the conclusion of their summit, and each of them will hold a press conference separately.

Among the most prominent contentious issues between Russia and America are the armament treaties and the deployment of short and medium-range missiles, the military presence of America and NATO near the border with Russia, Washington’s support for the Russian opposition, in addition to the human rights file inside Russia, and Moscow’s support for armed separatists in eastern Ukraine, as well as the Syrian file .