Putin pokes fun at U.S. amid arms pact dispute

MOSCOW >> Russian President Vladimir Putin poked fun at the official seal of the United States while hosting U.S. President Donald Trump’s national security adviser Tuesday, saying he wondered if the American eagle had plucked all the olives from the branch in its talon.

While sitting down with John Bolton at the Kremlin, Putin mentioned Trump’s stated intent to pull the U.S. out of a pivotal arms control treaty. He said Moscow also was aware of Washington’s doubts about extending another landmark nuclear treaty and its plans to deploy elements of missile defense in space.

The Russian leader then referred to the Great Seal of the United States, which includes a bald eagle holding a bundle of 13 arrows in one talon and an olive branch with 13 olives in another.

“I have a question: Has your eagle picked all the olives and only has arrows left?” Putin asked with a laugh.

But while underlining the differences between Russia and the U.S., Putin also emphasized the need to maintain a dialogue, saying he would be ready to meet with Trump in Paris during centenary commemorations next month marking the end of World War I.

Putin said his last meeting with Trump in Helsinki in July was useful despite their tough discussion, adding that he would be open to meet with Trump in France “if the U.S. side is interested in such contacts.”

Bolton responded that Trump would look forward to seeing Putin in Paris on the sideline of events marking 100 years since Armistice Day, which is Nov. 11.

“Despite our differences which exist because of our different national interests, it’s still important to work in areas where there is a possibility of mutual cooperation,” Bolton said.

Bolton’s Kremlin meeting with Putin followed two days of talks with top Russian foreign policy and security officials.

“Hopefully, I will have some answers for you,” he said. “But I didn’t bring any more olives.”

“That’s what I thought,” Putin quipped.

The Russian leader further demonstrated his knowledge of U.S. symbols, citing the motto written on the scroll the eagle holds in its beak — “Out of Many, One” — as reflecting the need to find common ground despite various viewpoints.

Putin and Bolton laughed as they exchanged the quips at the start of the meeting, setting an easy tone ahead of what was expected to be a tense discussion given Trump’s weekend statement about abandoning the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty.

Speaking at a news conference after the talks with Putin, Bolton emphasized that the U.S. has been confident that Russia has violated the treaty by testing and deploying a groundbased cruise missile.

AP PHOTO/ALEXANDER ZEMLIANICHENKO Russian President Vladimir Putin, left, shakes hands with U.S. National security adviser John Bolton during their meeting in the Kremlin in Moscow, Russia on Tuesday.