Trump, Putin see positive future
hamburg — At long last face to face, US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin voiced confidence on Friday that their historic first meeting would pave the way for a positive trajectory for their two countries. If thornier issues like election meddling came up, they discussed them only in private.
Trump said he and the Russian leader were holding “very, very good talks” as journalists were briefly allowed in to witness part of their meeting in Germany. Trump appeared informal and relaxed and said it was “an honour” to be with Putin.
“We look forward to a lot of very positive things happening for Russia, for the United States and for everybody concerned,” Trump said.
Trump offered no details about what issues he and the Russian leader had discussed, describing them only as “various things”. Putin was similarly vague, telling reporters through a translator that they were discussing international problems and bilateral issues.
Still, Putin described the fact that they were meeting as a positive sign in itself, and he said he hoped the meeting would “yield positive results”.
“Phone conversations are never enough definitely,” Putin said. “If you want to have a positive outcome in bilaterals and be able to resolve most international policy issues, that will really need personal meetings.”
Then the leaders shook hands firmly but briefly before reporters were escorted out of the room. Trump did not respond to shouted questions about whether they would discuss Russia’s meddling in the US election — a topic lawmakers in Washington have been demanding that Trump raise directly.
Both kept their composure amid the commotion of cameras clicking and journalists lobbying questions as anxious aides moved about nearby. The US leader’s son, Donald Trump Jr., took to Twitter to say the noise from the cameras made it difficult to even hear the two leaders’ words.
“How many pictures do you need of the same scene?” he said.
The heavily anticipated meeting is being closely scrutinised for signs of how friendly a rapport Trump and Putin will have. Trump’s predecessor, President Barack
We look forward to a lot of very positive things happening for russia, for the united States and for everybody concerned Donald Trump, US President
Obama, had notoriously strained ties to Putin, and Trump has expressed an interest in a better USRussia relationship.
But deep scepticism about Russia in the US and ongoing investigations into whether Trump’s campaign coordinated with Moscow during last year’s election have made a US-Russia detente politically risky for Trump.
The White House said that 35 minutes had been allotted for the meeting, which also included Secretary
If you want to have a positive outcome… and be able to resolve issues, that will need personal meetings Vladimir Putin, Russian President
of State Rex Tillerson and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov. Putin, slightly hunched in his chair, rubbed his fingers together as he listened to Trump address reporters during the public portion of their meeting.
In a prelude to their formal sitdown, Trump and Putin shook hands and exchanged broad grins earlier on Friday in a brief exchange caught on video as a leaders’ retreat got under way in Hamburg. A brief video clip showed Trump outstretching his hand to Putin as officials gathered around a table, then patting Putin’s elbow as both men smiled. In another clip, Trump casually patted Putin on the back as they stood side by side. Video of the brief exchange was posted to Facebook by the German cabinet. It was the first known in-person interaction between the two men.
Outside the summit site, antiglobalisation protesters were causing problems for first lady Melania Trump, who was kept from joining other leaders’ spouses for their own program of events.
In the lead-up to the meeting, Trump used a speech in Warsaw on Thursday to voice a list of grievances about Russia. He urged Putin’s government to “cease its destabilising activities in Ukraine and elsewhere and its support for hostile regimes — including Syria and Iran — and to instead join the community of responsible nations in our fight against common enemies and in defence of civilisation itself ”.
But much of the focus — both in Washington and Moscow — will be on whether Trump broaches the issue of Russia’s meddling in the election. Putin, a former Russian intelligence agent, is known to come to high-profile meetings like this well-prepared. — AP