Handshake and smiles as Trump and Putin meet for the first time
IT WAS the briefest of firm handshakes, but one which the very future of the planet may depend on.
Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin, perhaps the most important people on Earth, met for the first time in Germany and smiled.
The American president came face to face with his Russian counterpart at the G20 summit in Hamburg for a meeting loaded with significance.
But they both played a straight bat. “It’s an honour to be with you,” Mr Trump told Mr Putin, who responded: “I’m delighted to meet you personally.”
Both men were intent on repairing ties between the nations, damaged by crises including Russia’s alleged meddling in the US election.
Climate change and trade are set to dominate the two-day G20 meeting. Violent clashes between protesters and police have taken place in the streets outside the venue, with dozens left injured.
A huge police operation is trying to keep demonstrators – who are protesting against the presence of Mr Trump and Mr Putin, climate change and global wealth inequalities – well away from the summit venue, and water cannons have been deployed.
Mr Trump claimed there are “very positive things” in store for the US and Russia as he sat down with Mr Putin.
As journalists briefly witnessed part of the meeting, the US president said that he and Mr Putin had already held “very, very good talks”. “We look forward to a lot of very positive things happening for Russia and the United States,” Mr Trump said.
US secretary of state Rex Tillerson later said Mr Putin denied being involved in meddling in the 2016 presidential election, an issue Mr Trump raised at the start of the meeting. He added that 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. The two also discussed a ceasefire deal for southwestern Syria.
We look forward to a lot of very positive things happening. US President Donald Trump speaking as the historic meeting got under way.