Biden and Trump face off in first election debate of the season

The two presidential candidates laid out their competing visions in a high-stakes debate where both attempted to convince voters ahead of the November election.

The debate- which was held in Atlanta- got off to an icy start as the two candidates did not shake hands before walking to their podiums.

Both candidates are well-known to voters, broadly unpopular- according to polls- and offer dramatically different views on virtually every core issue.

When asked whether he agreed to Putin's terms for ending Russia's war in Ukraine, Trump claimed Putin decided to invade after seeing how the Biden administration handled their exit from the war in Afghanistan.

Although confirming he would not accept Putin's terms for ending the war, he claimed he would have the war "settled", and reiterated previous claims that the US was providing Ukraine with too much financial aid.

Biden responded by calling Vladimir Putin a "war criminal" and that he wouldn't stop with Ukraine. He also noted that Nato produces "as much for Ukraine" as the US has and that America's strength "lies in its alliances."

Trump repeated his mantra that European allies do not spend as much on Nato as the US, claiming that he successfully pressured Nato allies to ramp up spending.

Stakes are high for Ukraine, who are currently the top recipient of US foreign aid.

Over the war between Israel and Hamas Trump did not directly answer if he would support an independent Palestinian state. He asserted that Israel should "finish the job" and accused Biden of acting like a "Palestinian".

Biden reaffirmed his support for Israel but focused on Hamas, commenting that they should be eliminated.

He touted a plan that included trading hostages in exchange for Palestinian prisoners and