A potential Biden-Putin summit could cover issues on which both sides have some mutual agreement, such as strengthening arms control further, cooperation on the COVID-19 pandemic, climate change, Iran nuclear deal and more controversial issues like Ukraine, said Prof. Peter Kuznick from American University. There is fear that there will be a military confrontation in Ukraine, but there is room for optimism as both the U.S. and Russia seem to have backed off recently, he added.

On Ukraine's desire to join the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), Prof. Kuznick said, it's "a very, very provocative, dangerous move on the part of Ukraine" and is very unlikely to happen since the U.S. will not want to cross Russia's red line.