Trump confronts Putin on election meddling

US and Russian leaders hold first face-to-face discussions

President Donald Trump opened his first meeting with Russian president Vladimir Putin yesterday by raising US concerns about Moscow’s meddling in the 2016 presidential election, US secretary of state Rex Tillerson said.

Mr Tillerson said Mr Putin denied being involved and went on to say there was “clear positive chemistry” between the leaders during a meeting that lasted more than two hours although initially 35 minutes had been set aside.

Mr Trump’s decision to confront Mr Putin directly over election interference fulfilled ardent demands by US politicians of both parties that the President not shy away from the issue in his highly anticipated meeting with Mr Putin.

Mr Trump has avoided stating unequivocally in the past that Russia interfered, even as investigations proceed into whether Mr Trump’s campaign colluded with Russians who sought to help him win.

“I think the President is rightly focused on how do we move forward from something that may be an intractable disagreement at this point,” Mr Tillerson said.

Both Mr Trump and Mr Putin appeared determined not to let the issue obstruct future cooperation, though their aides offered differing descriptions of where they left the matter at the conclusion of their meeting, which spanned more than two hours.

Russian foreign minister Sergey Lavrov, who attended the meeting along with Mr Tillerson, said Mr Trump accepted Mr Putin’s assurances that Russia did not meddle in the US election.

But Mr Tillerson said the Russians had asked for “proof and evidence” of its involvement.

Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Mr Tillerson said the discussion about the election meddling was “robust and lengthy”.

Mr Tillerson said the two leaders had agreed to continue the discussion, with an eye toward securing a commitment that Russia will not interfere in US affairs in the future.

In their meeting, the two also discussed a ceasefire deal for southwestern Syria that was reached by Russia and the United States.

Though the US and Russia have held conflicting views on Syria in the past, Mr Tillerson said Russia had an interest in seeing the Middle East nation become a stable place.

Though Mr Tillerson said details about the ceasefire need to be worked out, Mr Lavrov said that Russian military police will monitor the ceasefire, with a monitoring centre set up in Jordan, another party to the deal.

Both the Russians and the Americans took pains to describe the meeting as “constructive,” cordial and wideranging, covering key topics including cyber security and North Korea.

Still, Mr Tillerson said no next meeting for Mr Putin and Mr Trump had been scheduled.

“The two leaders connected very quickly. There was a very clear positive chemistry,” said Mr Tillerson.

The former Exxon Mobil chief executive has done business in Russia and is one of the only senior members of Mr Trump’s administration who has prior experience dealing with Mr Putin.

The heavily anticipated meeting has been closely scrutinised for signs of how friendly a rapport Mr Trump and Mr Putin will have.

I think the President is rightly focused on how do we move forward ... REX TILLERSON, US SECRETARY OF STATE

Pictures: AP. Russian President Vladimir Putin, left, and US President Donald Trump shake hands after their meeting at the G20 summit in Hamburg, Germany. Right: German Chancellor Angela Merkel, centre, turns around as world leaders prepare for the start of the...