Data: U.S. Department of State's Office of the Historian; Chart: Andrew Witherspoon/Axios
The number of meetings between U.S. and Russian presidents has dwindled in recent years, according to State Department data.
Why it matters: Any get-together is momentous if only for the participants. U.S. presidents have met with Russian dictators during World War II. The nations' leaders have signed arms deals, discussed Ukraine and reports of election interference by Russia in U.S. elections.
What to watch: President Biden has studied up for the summit, meeting with experts and even former Trump officials, Axios reported.
- The president plans to be tough with Putin but isn't overly optimistic about what can get done, according to Politico.
- Axios World author David Lawler notes: "All of Biden's predecessors on this list came into office hoping to improve relations with Russia. Biden's goals are more modest: to work together on the few issues, like nuclear security, where interests overlap, and to avoid crises that will cause relations to deteriorate any further."