Summary
Donald Trump has left Finland for the US, bringing an end to a whirlwind day.
- Donald Trump was condemned as “treasonous” for siding with the Kremlin in a press conference that included discussions about election meddling, oil pipelines, Syria, Crimea and nuclear power.
- The press conference followed a two hour one-on-one meeting between the two presidents and a working lunch with their aides.
- In the press conference, Trump did not criticize Putin or the cyber-attacks that the US intelligence community says he coordinated to help Trump’s 2016 election campaign. “I have great confidence in my intelligence people, but I will tell you that President Putin was extremely strong and powerful in his denial today,” Trump said.
- Putin denied meddling and said Russia “doesn’t plan” to interfere in US domestic politics.
- Putin presented Trump with a football from the World Cup. Trump said he would give it to his son, Baron. Republican senator Lindsay Graham, however, warned this could be a bad idea. “I’d check the soccer ball for listening devices and never allow it in the White House,” Graham said.
- After the press conference, Putin and Trump spoke to Fox News hosts. Putin’s interview will air some time today, but there is not yet a confirmed time. And Trump’s two interviews will air at 9pm ET tonight and 8pm ET tomorrow.
Updated
The director of National Intelligence under Donald Trump, Dan Coats, released a statement in response to Trump’s summit with Putin today. Trump said today he has confidence in Russia and the US intelligence community.
“All I can do is ask the question - my people came to me, Dan Coats came to me and some others, they said they think it’s Russia,” Trump said. “I have President Putin he just said it’s not Russia. I will say this, I don’t see any reason why it would be but I really want to see the server but, I have confidence in both parties.”
“We have been clear in our assessments of Russian meddling in the 2016 election and their ongoing, pervasive efforts to undermine our democracy, and we will continue to provide unvarnished and objective intelligence in support of our national security,” Coats said.
STATEMENT FROM DAN COATS: "The role of the Intelligence Community is to provide the best information and fact-based assessments possible for the President and policymakers. We have been clear in our assessments of Russian meddling in the 2016 election..." pic.twitter.com/X1DbEBVEMU
— Kaitlan Collins (@kaitlancollins) July 16, 2018
Guardian foreign correspondent Luke Harding, who has reported extensively from Russia, analyzed the press conference, which he said is “one of the most astonishing ever.”
One of the big questions pre-summit was whether Trump would call for the extradition to the US of the 12 Russian spies indicted by Mueller. He didn’t. When the subject came up in the question and answer session Putin sought to throw the accusation back. He said he would investigate the report and even offered to “cooperate”. The Kremlin, he said, would allow Mueller’s team to visit Moscow and to question suspects. In return, however, it wanted access to Bill Browder, a US-born British financier who is a Kremlin bogeyman. Putin was well aware that Mueller’s investigators won’t be visiting Russian anytime soon. He extended a similar offer in 2006 to Scotland Yard following the radioactive murder of Alexander Litvinenko using a cup of tea. The detectives who flew to Moscow found themselves in a PR pantomime, with their efforts to get evidence thwarted by the state.
Paul Ryan: 'Russia is not our ally'
House speaker Paul Ryan, a Republican, said in a statement that the US must be “focused on holding Russia accountable.” Ryan said:
There is no question that Russia interfered in our election and continues attempts to undermine democracy here and around the world. That is not just the finding of the American intelligence community but also the House Committee on Intelligence. The president must appreciate that Russia is not our ally. There is no moral equivalence between the United States and Russia, which remains hostile to our most basic values and ideals. The United States must be focused on holding Russia accountable and putting an end to its vile attacks on democracy.
Updated
Seconds before the press conference began, a man in the audience, Sam Husseini, was forcibly removed from the hall. More details are emerging about Husseini and the circumstances surrounding his removal.
The Nation editor and publisher, Katrina vanden Heuvel, confirmed Husseini was the man removed from the conference and said he received press accreditation from the news magazine to cover the summit.
“As Trump administration consistently denigrates media, we’re deeply troubled by reports that he was forcibly removed from press conference,” vanden Heuvel said on Twitter.
Husseini is a communications director of the Institute for Public Accuracy, which seeks to expand the reach of progressive organizations in the media.
He was temporarily suspended from the National Press Club in 2011 after questioning the Saudi ambassador.
More reaction from the US:
Abby Huntsman, Fox News host and daughter of US ambassador to Russia
No negotiation is worth throwing your own people and country under the bus.
— Abby Huntsman (@HuntsmanAbby) July 16, 2018
Nancy Pelosi, house minority leader: ‘embarrassing’
Just several days ago, 12 Russians were indicted for attacking our democracy.
— Nancy Pelosi (@TeamPelosi) July 16, 2018
Today, America's so-called leader embarrassingly failed to stand up to the person who spearheaded the attack.
Seriously, what does Putin have on Trump that's he's so afraid?
David Axelrod, Democratic strategist: ‘horrifying’
Horrifying that @POTUS ends summits with brutal despots who menace our country with a warm embrace, and seemingly ends every interaction with our western allies in bitter discord.
— David Axelrod (@davidaxelrod) July 16, 2018
Mike Murphy, Republican strategist: ‘weak’
Just saw the most depressing, disgusting, toadying, weak, moronic, lie-stuffed, and damn near traitorous public hour in the long history of the American Presidency. A dark day. 1/2
— Mike Murphy (@murphymike) July 16, 2018
Trump is on his way to the airport, set to fly back to Washington DC.
But first, he spoke with Fox News hosts Sean Hannity and Tucker Carlson, according to the White House pool.
Fox News is also set to air an interview with Putin later today.
Pres Trump departing Presidential Palace summit site in Helsinki. Heading for airport and flight home. pic.twitter.com/UBkuaYrtMK
— Mark Knoller (@markknoller) July 16, 2018
Press conference summary
A brief recap of the press conference, which followed a working lunch and one-on-one meeting between Trump and Putin:
- Putin said the two outlined the “first steps for improving this relationship and to restore an acceptable level of trust”.
- Trump said the US relationship with Russia had “never been worse” than it was “until four hours ago,” just before the two spoke.
Russian interference in US election
- Trump and Putin agreed there was “no collusion” between his campaign and Russia in the 2016 election.
- Trump rejected an opportunity to publicly condemn Putin for Russia’s attempts to meddle in the election.
- Putin did say he supported Trump in the election. “I wanted Trump to win because he spoke about normalizing Russian relations,” Putin said.
- Putin said the US president introduced the topic of Russian election meddling during their meeting. Putin reiterated that Russia has not and “doesn’t plan” to interfere in US domestic politics.
- Trump said Putin “has an interesting idea” about the issue of election meddling, but did not elaborate.
- Trump repeatedly defended his win in the 2016 election, attacking people who raised questions about Russia’s role.
- Putin did not deny that Russia has compromising information on Trump. Trump said: “If they had it, it would have been out long ago.”
Syria
- Trump says the two countries “could save hundreds of thousands of lives” in the country.
- Putin says a major concern there was how many refugees have been displaced from their home country.
Business
- Putin said the US and Russia will put together a “working group” of Russia and American businessmen.
- Trump said Putin is a “good competitor,” in response to a question about Germany’s plans to build the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline.
Updated
The US Senator from South Carolina has a warning about the football Putin gifted to Trump.
Finally, if it were me, I’d check the soccer ball for listening devices and never allow it in the White House.
— Lindsey Graham (@LindseyGrahamSC) July 16, 2018
Graham also said Trump missed an opportunity to hold Russia accountable for election meddling. “This answer by President Trump will be seen by Russia as a sign of weakness and create far more problems than it solves,” Graham said.
We’ll post highlights from that extraordinary press conference momentarily. Meanwhile, some early reaction from the US:
Ari Fleischer, a White House press secretary under George W Bush: ‘naive’
I continue to believe there was no collusion between the Trump campaign and Russia. But when Trump so easily and naively accepts Putin’s line about not being involved, I can understand why Ds think Putin must have the goods on him.
— Ari Fleischer (@AriFleischer) July 16, 2018
John Brennan, CIA director under Obama: ‘treasonous’
Donald Trump’s press conference performance in Helsinki rises to & exceeds the threshold of “high crimes & misdemeanors.” It was nothing short of treasonous. Not only were Trump’s comments imbecilic, he is wholly in the pocket of Putin. Republican Patriots: Where are you???
— John O. Brennan (@JohnBrennan) July 16, 2018
Justin Amash, a Republican representative for Michigan: ‘not right’
A person can be in favor of improving relations with Russia, in favor of meeting with Putin, and still think something is not right here.
— Justin Amash (@justinamash) July 16, 2018
CNN journalist Anderson Cooper: ‘disgraceful’
Anderson Cooper calls that press conference one of the most "disgraceful performances by an American president" ever.
— Kaitlan Collins (@kaitlancollins) July 16, 2018
Putin doesn't deny he has compromising information on Trump
Lemire, the AP journalist, now asks about Crimea, something neither of the men had yet mentioned in the press conference.
Putin says Trump “continues to maintain that it was illegal to annex it. Our viewpoint is different.”
Then, Putin responds to Lemire’s question on whether or not he has comprising information on the US president.
Asked if he has compromising material on Trump, Putin replies: "I did hear these rumours. When President Trump visited Moscow back then, I didn't even know he was in Moscow... Nobody informed me that he was in Moscow... Please disregard these issues."
— David Smith (@SmithInAmerica) July 16, 2018
Putin DOES NOT DENY that he has compromising material on Trump. He merely says that Putin didn't know Trump was in Moscow.
— Emily C. Singer (@CahnEmily) July 16, 2018
Trump said: “If they had it, it would have been out long ago.”
That was the last question of the press conference, which has ended.
Updated
The AP’s Jonathan Lemire asks Trump to warn Putin never to intervene in a US election again in front of the cameras.
Trump speaks extensively about FBI servers and asks about Hillary Clinton’s emails.
Trump on election interference: "President Putin was extremely strong and powerful in his denial today."
— David Smith (@SmithInAmerica) July 16, 2018
Asked if he believes the intelligence agencies who concluded that Russia did meddle in the election or Putin who denies it, Trump brings up the DNC server. He later says of Russia, "I don’t see any reason why it would be. I really do want to see the server."
— Kaitlan Collins (@kaitlancollins) July 16, 2018
Putin asks to comment. “I was an intelligent officer myself,” he says.
“I believe Russia is a democratic state and I hope you’re not denying this right to your own country. Do you believe the US is a democracy?” Putin says.
He says if you do believe the US is a democracy, this matter must be dealt with in court.
Putin: The most recent allegation against 12 Russian officers. "Do send us the request. We will analyse it properly and we will send a formal response."
— David Smith (@SmithInAmerica) July 16, 2018
Putin then gives Trump a ball from the World Cup. Trump says his son will like it and throws it into the audience - apparently to Melania.
Updated
An RT reporter asks Trump, in English, to go into details on any specific arrangements made today or discussed about intervention in Syria.
The reporter then moves to Russian to ask Putin about the country’s role there.
Trump says they would like to work to help Israel.
And that Russia has helped the US eradicate Isis.
Trump: "Our militaries have probably got along better than our political leaders for years."
— David Smith (@SmithInAmerica) July 16, 2018
Putin says a crucial issue in Syria is the “huge amount of refugees” in Lebanon, Jordan and Turkey.
“I wanted Trump to win because he spoke about normalizing Russian relations,” Putin said.
Putin says he's willing to let Special Counsel Mueller make an official request that Russia interrogate those Russians indicted for election meddling in the US. But in exchange, says Russia would expect US to question Americans that Russia charges with illegal actions against it. pic.twitter.com/RGibymEvbb
— Mark Knoller (@markknoller) July 16, 2018
Putin: "We have to be guided by facts, not by rumours." I don't know the full extent of the situation of the 12 indicted Russian military officers. President Trump mentioned it and I will look into it.
— David Smith (@SmithInAmerica) July 16, 2018
Main takeaway so far: trump and Putin agree there was ‘no collusion’
— Susan Glasser (@sbg1) July 16, 2018
Reuters’ Jeff Mason then asked Putin to answer to claims Russia interfered in the 2016 election.
Trump responded to the reporter’s question for Putin for several minutes, including to defend, again, his election win. Then, Putin spoke.
Putin said: “Where did you get the idea that Trump trusts me or I trust him?”
Putin says they are looking for “points of contact” and that the presidents are looking for a way to reconcile their differences.
Putin: "We should be guided by facts. Can you name a single fact that would definitively prove collusion? This is nonsense."
— David Smith (@SmithInAmerica) July 16, 2018
Updated
Jeff Mason, an American reporter for Reuters, asked about Trump’s tweet this morning that US “foolishness and stupidity” damaged the relationship between the US and Russia.
“I hold both countries responsible,” Trump says. “I think the United States has been foolish. I think we’ve all been foolish”
“I think we’re all to blame.”
He says “nuclear proliferation, in terms of stopping” is the most important thing for them to work on together.
He then moves onto the investigation into Russia’s interference in the 2016 US election.
“There was no collusion,” Trump says.
“I beat Hillary Clinton easily,” Trump says.
He says it has had a negative impact on the relationship between the “two largest nuclear powers in the world.”
Updated
A reporter from Russia’s Interfax news agency asked about German’s plan to build the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline.
Trump says Putin is a “good competitor.”
“We will be competing when you talk about the pipeline,” says Trump.
Trump says the US and Russia “could save hundreds of thousands of lives” in Syria.
“This was a very constructive day, a very constructive few hours we spent together.”
“I’m sure we’ll be meeting again in the future, often.”
The two presidents have concluded their remarks and now for questions from the press.
Trump says he addressed election interference.
“I thought it was best done in person,” Trump said.
He says they spent a great deal of time talking about it. “He feels very strongly about it - and he has an interesting idea.”
Trump: US-Russia relationship never worse - until four hours ago
“The disagreements between our two countries are well-known and president Putin and I discussed them at length today,” Trump says.
He says to address world problems the two countries are going to have to work together.
“Even during the tensions of the Cold War, when the world looked much different than it does today, Russia and the US were able to maintain a strong dialogue.”
“Our relationship has never been worse than it is now. However, that changed. As of about four hours ago.”
Trump: "Our relationship has never been worse than it is now. However, that changed as of about four hours ago." (Some giggles in the room. Putin remains poker faced.)
— David Smith (@SmithInAmerica) July 16, 2018
Trump is now speaking.
“We had direct, open, deeply productive dialogue. It went very well.”
He commends Putin for how Russia hosted the World Cup and the national team’s performance at the tournament.
Putin: Trump raised Russian interference
Putin said Trump raised the issue of Russian meddling in the US election.
“I had to repeat what I said earlier, including in personal meetings with the president, Russia never interfered and doesn’t plan to interfere in US domestic politics, including elections,” Putin said.
He said if “any such material, if such things arise, we are ready to discuss them together.”
“The United States could be more decisive in nudging Ukrainian leadership,” Putin says.
“We agreed, me and president Trump, we agreed to put together a high-level working group” of Russia and and American businessmen, Putin says.
Putin is discussing counterterrorism and cybersecurity.
Putin said Russia and US interests don’t always “dovetail,” but “the overlapping interests abound.”
He talks about Syria and how to get refugees back to their home and how the US and Russia have communicated about their intervention there.
He said they are “glad” issues with North Korea “are starting to resolve.”
Press conference begins
The press conference is under way.
Putin begins. He says the Cold War is a thing of the past.
“Today both Russia and the United States face a whole new set of challenges.”
Putin said in the negotiations they outlined “first steps for improving this relationship and to restore an acceptable level of trust”.
Updated
Man removed from press conference
There was just a skirmish in the press conference hall and a man was removed from the room.
Security officials asked him to leave the room earlier, and he left peacefully, according to CNN’s Jim Acosta but then the man re-entered.
He was then forcibly removed, carrying a hand-written sign.
The man identified himself as a US journalist from The Nation, according to reporters who witnessed the altercation, but that has not been confirmed.
Acosta said the sign said: “Nuclear weapons ban treaty”.
US Journalist from The Nation sitting next to me is being asked to go with secret service before start of news conf. Escorted out by Finnish security and US secret service #. #TrumpPutinSummit pic.twitter.com/EunnupuCoV
— Jon Sopel (@BBCJonSopel) July 16, 2018
Updated
The “two-minute” warning issued moments ago at the press briefing was ambitious.
It’s been more than ten minutes since the two-minute warning.
Reporters have gathered for the press conference and were just warned it will begin in two minutes.
Several American print reporters are on the floor for the presser. The rest of us are in the balcony. Nice view: pic.twitter.com/roXBdtwoIb
— Eli Stokols (@EliStokols) July 16, 2018
At presidential palace awaiting Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin. pic.twitter.com/mVtJXas8PC
— David Smith (@SmithInAmerica) July 16, 2018
Trump, Putin and their aides gathered for lunch in the Hall of Mirrors, once the emperor’s throne room, following the one-on-one meeting.
That meeting lasted more than two hours, though the White House allotted 1.5 hours for the meeting in its schedule for Monday.
There was also a delay because Putin arrived late to his meeting with Trump.
All of this has pushed back the press conference, which was scheduled to begin 40 minutes ago. Reporters in Helsinki are antsy:
It’s getting a bit chaotic as non-big US network TV crews get impatient. pic.twitter.com/gE4GOunJel
— Steve Herman (@W7VOA) July 16, 2018
The Guardian’s Washington DC bureau chief, David Smith, is huddled with the press in Helsinki and the press conference delay is a good opportunity to read his report on the summit from this morning, if you missed it:
A former US defense secretary under Barack Obama, Chuck Hagel, said he was worried because there was not a clear “strategic purpose” for the one-on-one meeting between Trump and Putin.
“What is the point?” Hagel, a former republican senator, asked on Monday morning.
“Let’s understand something: the interests of any nation are far bigger than any one leader,” Hagel told NPR on Monday morning. “The interests of America are not the interests that president Trump defines them to be, or he decides that they are the priority or specific interest, or thinks they are or says they are.”
Hagel said he supports engagement with world powers but those meetings are “all about a strategic purpose.”
“What is the point? Is this just a golf date – with another leader?” Hagel said. “This is not a transactional issue like a real estate deal or an Apprentice-like show business appearance. There has to be preparation.”
When NPR asked Hagel what he expected to come out of this meeting, Hagel said: “I don’t know what has gone into it to start with. What was the point? The strategic purpose of going into it? He [Trump] went into it this very weakened because of a divided alliance that he actually perpetuated as well as a divided country.”
Trump’s full quote after the one-on-one meeting: “I think it’s a good start. Very, very good start for everybody.”
And more from the pool report:
The Russian and American delegations were seated across the table – dressed with a white table cloth, wine glasses, and china – and sitting in complete silence when we entered. Putin sat directly across from Trump. Trump was flanked by Pompeo and his translator.
White House pool reporter Annie Karni said Trump responded to one shouted question following his one-on-one meeting with Putin. Trump said the meeting was a “very good start,” per the pool report.
Karni said a White House spokesperson would not confirm that the meeting lasted two hours and ten minutes, as others are reporting.
After their one-on-one meeting, Presidents Trump and Putin and delegation members sat down to lunch in the Hall of Mirrors. Asked how their meeting went, "very good start," said Pres Trump. (Pool photo by @anniekarni) pic.twitter.com/KVhwNhihob
— Mark Knoller (@markknoller) July 16, 2018
CNN are showing footage of Trump and Putin sitting down for a very late lunch flanked by six aides each.
As expected on Trump’s side were US ambassador to Russia Jon Huntsman; US secretary of state, Mike Pompeo; White House chief of staff, John Kelly; national security adviser, John Bolton; and Russia expert and Trump adviser, Fiona Hill.
Putin’s six aides included his spokesman Dmitry Petrov and foreign minister Sergei Lavrov.
It’s just 4.25pm in Helsinki and the two leaders still haven’t had lunch, as the Putin-Trump one-to-one meeting goes into its third hour.
White House pool reporter Tessa Berenson has this update:
Pool was just informed Trump and Putin’s 1:1 meeting is still going, meaning it’s pushing 2 hours
— Tessa Berenson (@tcberenson) July 16, 2018
Another pool reporter Annie Karni added:
At 4 pm, we were herded into a coat check area to clear the way for the exit of the President of Finland.
He had been here to welcome the two visiting leaders — he welcomed Putin first, earlier today, and then Trump when he arrived.
Now that he’s gone, we’re back on the patio awaiting lunch to start.
The White House said lunch might be later and that it will let us know how long the one-on-one lasted.
China has filed a complaint against the US at the World Trade Organization after Donald Trump’s threats to place tariffs on an additional $200bn (£150bn) worth of Chinese goods.
The one-sentence announcement by the ministry of commerce comes less than a week after the US president called for a second round of tariffs on China, in retaliation for Chinese tariffs placed on American goods.
On 6 July, the US imposed 25% tariffs on $34bn in Chinese goods, prompting Beijing to hit back with levies on the same amount of US exports to China. In response, the White House last week released a wide-ranging list of Chinese goods, from tobacco to pet food, worth $200bn it would target with a 10% tariffs. Beijing said it would “fight back as usual” and would file a complaint with the WTO.
Trump said China and “our mutual friend President Xi” would be one of the key issues at his summit with Vladimir Putin.
The Putin Trump tete-a-tete has been going on for almost two hours, an Finnish official told AP. It had been expected to last for 90 minutes at most. Extra time and penalties?
Per Finnish official: Trump-Putin one-on-one meeting still ongoing, approaching two hours
— Jonathan Lemire (@JonLemire) July 16, 2018
There have been more anti-Trump and anti-Putin protests in Helsinki, with some dressed as Margaret Atwood-inspired handmaids demanding the release of members of Pussy Riot who were arrested on Sunday after invading the pitch at the World Cup final in Moscow.
AP reports:
Abortion-rights activists dressed up Monday in bulging bellies and Trump masks. Anti-fascist protesters carried signs with expletive-laden insults. Free traders, anti-war Ukrainians, environmentalists and rainbow flag-waving gay rights supporters all vied for attention from the world’s media.
In a city proud to defend the right to protest, demonstrators were scattered about. Some stayed at barriers erected by police to try to register their complaints as the world leaders sped by in armor-plated vehicles for their summit at Finland’s presidential palace.
Others marched by Helsinki landmarks, far away from the leaders’ gathering but in clear view of curious residents and tourists.
At the city’s Senate Square, about 20 male “pregnant Trumps” and 20 women wearing pink gags railed against a Trump order reinstating what critics call a “global gag rule” that bans providing federal money to international family-planning groups that perform abortions or provide information about them.
Another march that drew hundreds of people was a mishmash of messages some supporting German Chancellor Angela Merkel and some shouting “Fascists go home!” Some marchers questioned the legitimacy of Trump’s election victory since he lost the popular vote. Another sign read: “A woman’s place is in the Resistance.”
“I don’t think the two people meeting today are going to care whether we are here or not, frankly,” said Helsinki protesters Tina Aspiala, 43. “It’s more of a global solidarity against a lot of things that are messed up, and I think that that’s why it’s worth coming out.”
Some marchers had professionally designed banners while others scrawled slogans like “Not Welcome” onto homemade posters or warned of a looming apocalypse.
On Sunday, 1,500 people marched through the city to promote human and sexual rights, democracy and environmental issues.
Here’s what Putin wants to talk about, according to the Russian embassy in the US: “ways to normalise bilateral relations, as well as current international issues, primarily the situation in Ukraine, Syria and the Korean Peninsula, and the fight against terrorism.”
None of these issues were mentioned by Trump in his opening remarks.
Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump will discuss ways to normalise bilateral relations, as well as current international issues, primarily the situation in Ukraine, Syria and the Korean Peninsula, and the fight against terrorism. pic.twitter.com/msuboPmAdA
— Russia in USA 🇷🇺 (@RusEmbUSA) July 16, 2018
.
Updated
Michael McFaul, former US ambassador to Russia, was not impressed by Trump’s opening remarks to Putin.
No previous President of the United States of America has ever spoken like this about relations with Russia. Ever. #BAF. Blame America First. https://t.co/R1VHt84NJy
— Michael McFaul (@McFaul) July 16, 2018
“Improved relations” with Russia or any other country should never be the goal of American foreign policy. Instead , concrete objectives need to be defined, and then strategies for pursuing them - engagement, containment, isolation — need to be implemented.
— Michael McFaul (@McFaul) July 16, 2018
Reluctant body language is on show in a black and white image of Trump and Putin tweeted by White House spokeswoman Sarah Sanders.
.@POTUS @realDonaldTrump and President Putin sit down for one on one meeting in Helsinki, Finland. #HELSINKI2018 pic.twitter.com/ov0dSnafYB
— Sarah Sanders (@PressSec) July 16, 2018
The BBC’s Stuart Hughes spotted a cuff-tickling handshake.
It could be just the angle of the photo but President Trump appears from this @Reuters photo to be touching Vladimir Putin's shirt cuff. Strange? Checking the cotton thread count, perhaps? pic.twitter.com/4ddqh7CJNE
— Stuart Hughes (@stuartdhughes) July 16, 2018
#Helsinki: Vladimir Putin's meeting with Donald Trump https://t.co/59EAId0h2P pic.twitter.com/GonICs0bvU
— President of Russia (@KremlinRussia_E) July 16, 2018
Updated
White House pool reporter Annie Karni, has more on what we’re waiting for.
Since the one-on-one meeting between Trump and Putin started, the pool has been waiting in a non-air-conditioned, steamy conference room in the presidential palace on the first floor. On the menu for lunch is hot soup.
We have a view of lots of people walking right by the palace on the opposite side of this narrow street.
At 3:16 pm local time (1.16pm BST) we are gathering to go up to another photocall before the summit lunch - an extended bilateral meeting involving Trump and Putin and their aides
Attending the bilateral with Trump will be US ambassador to Russia Jon Huntsman; US secretary of state, Mike Pompeo; White House chief of staff, John Kelly; national security adviser, John Bolton; Russia expert and Trump adviser, Fiona Hill; and Marina Gross, an interpreter.
The White House has confirmed that Putin and Trump will hold another bilateral meeting with more aides present after their tete-a-tete. There will also be a joint press conference.
The joint press conference had been due to take place at around 4.50pm local time, (2.50pm BST).
There has been no word on whether this timetable has slipped after the delay to the start of the summit.
Happening Now: President Trump has a 1:1 bilateral meeting with President Putin. Later they will hold an expanded bilateral meeting and a joint press conference.
— The White House (@WhiteHouse) July 16, 2018
Donald Trump has dealt a fresh blow to hopes that he will confront the Russian president, Vladimir Putin, over election interference as they met on Monday, blaming his own country rather than Moscow for poor diplomatic relations.
Apparently dismissing the cold war, when the superpowers stood on the brink of all-out nuclear war, the US president wrote on Twitter: “Our relationship with Russia has NEVER been worse thanks to many years of U.S. foolishness and stupidity and now, the Rigged Witch Hunt!”
Trump made the startling claim ahead of his first, high-risk summit with Putin in Helsinki, Finland.
Not for the first time in his long career, Putin arrived later than expected, forcing his counterpart to wait. The Russian leader touched down just after 1pm local time, even though the official greeting with Trump at the Finnish presidential palace had been scheduled for 1.10pm.
Trump and Putin came face to face at the presidential palace in Helsinki around 50 minutes later than scheduled and both made brief remarks before the media.
Sky’s Mark Stone spotted an interesting Trump wink amidst the awkward body language.
Very awkward body language... but @realDonaldTrump did offer Vladimir Putin a wink. @SkyNews 😉 pic.twitter.com/mQur4dzReI
— Mark Stone (@Stone_SkyNews) July 16, 2018
What we know so far
- Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump are holding a one-to-one meeting in Helsinki after posing for a tense photocall. The two men shook hands for only three seconds.
- In opening remarks to Putin, Trump said he planned to discuss trade, military, missiles and China. He did not mention Russian meddling in the US election, Ukraine, Syria, Nato or Salisbury poisoning. But he congratulate Putin on a successful World Cup.
- “Getting along with Russia is a good thing,” Trump said after admitting the US and Russia have “not been getting along very well for the last number of years”. He added: “I really think the world wants to see us get along. We are the two great nuclear powers.”
- Both Putin and Trump delayed their arrival to the summit in what was widely interpreted as diplomatic gamesmanship. Putin’s plane arrived in Helsinki almost an hour after the summit was due to begin. Trump then delayed his arrival at the Presidential Palace where the talks are taking place.
- In a pre-summit tweet Trump said US-Russia relations have “never been worse”. He went on to blame the “rigged witch hunt” into Russian meddling in the US election. Russia’s foreign ministry said it agreed with that assessment.
-
In another pre-summit tweet Trump hailed last week’s strained meeting with Nato as a success. He said: “We had a truly great Summit that was inaccurately covered by much of the media. NATO is now strong & rich!”
Updated
Trump and Putin are currently participating in their one-to-one meeting with only translators in the room, according to the White House pool reporter.
Trump transcript
Here’s a transcript of what Trump said to Putin:
First of all Mr President I’d like to congratulate you on a really great World Cup. One of the best ever from what everybody tells me and also for your team, itself, doing so well.
I watched quite a bit and in the United States we call it soccer and I watched quite a bit of it and I watched the entire final and the semi-finals and they were really spectacular games, but it was beautifully done so congratulations on that.
Most importantly we have a lot of good things to talk about ... we have discussions on everything from trade to military, to missiles, to nuclear, to China, we’ll be talking a little bit about China – our mutual friend President Xi.
I think we have great opportunities together as two countries that frankly we have not been getting along very well for the last number of years. I’ve been here not too long but it is getting close to two years, but I think we will end up having an extraordinary relationship. I’ve been saying, and I’m sure you’ve heard, over the years ... that getting along with Russia is a good thing not a bad thing.
I really think the world wants to see us get along. We are the two great nuclear powers. We have 90% of the nuclear – and that’s not a good thing it’s a bad thing. I think we can hopefully do something about that because it is not a positive force it is a negative force so we’ll be talking about that among other things.
And with that the world awaits and I look forward to our personal discussion which I think begins now and then we are going to meet our whole team. You have quite a few representatives as I do. We all have a lot of questions and hopefully, we will come up with answers most importantly. It is great to be with you.
Thank you everybody.
Note what Trump didn’t list in topics for discussion. There was no mention of Russian meddling in the US election, Syria, North Korea, novichoik, Nato, or Ukraine.
Putin and Trump close with a handshake that lasted about three seconds. Both men looked tense, they didn’t smile much.
No questions taken from reporters. Now, a 90 minute one-on-one meeting between Trump & Putin pic.twitter.com/PkXibkAl0Y
— Jamie Dupree (@jamiedupree) July 16, 2018
Updated
Putin and Trump meet
Trump and Putin are posing for the cameras at the Presidential Palace in Helsinki.
Putin says it is a pleasure to meet Trump. Trump congratulates Putin on the World Cup and on Russia’s performance in the tournament. “I watched quite a bit of it ... it was beautifully done,” Trump says.
He says we have a lot of good things to talk about, from trade to China and “our mutual friend Presidential Xi.”
We have great opportunities together, we have not been getting along for years, Trump adds. Getting along is a good thing, Trump says. The world wants to see us getting along, he adds. We have 90% of the world’s nuclear weapons and that is not a good thing, Trump says.
AP sets out what is due to happen next:
President Donald Trump has arrived at Finland’s Presidential Palace for a summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Putin arrived minutes earlier at the palace in Helsinki for the summit, which consists of a one-on-one meeting and a larger working lunch, and will conclude with a joint news conference.
Monday’s meeting is being closely watched on both sides of the Atlantic, coming days after the US Justice Department indicted 12 Russian military intelligence officers for their role in hacking Democratic entities during the 2016 presidential campaign.
Trump says he hopes for better relations with the Russian leader. He faces bipartisan scepticism in Washington that his desire for warming ties is displacing concerns over Russia’s annexation of Crimea and other destabilizing actions.
President Trump has arrived at the Presidential Palace in Helsinki, Finland for his meeting with President Putin.
— The White House (@WhiteHouse) July 16, 2018
Trump arrived at the presidential palace at 1.57pm local time almost an hour after the summit was due to begin.
Both Trump and Putin are in the building.
#BREAKING: Both Pres. #Trump and #Russia's Vladimir #Putin have arrived at Presidential Palace in #Helsinki for summit between two leaders #HelsinkiSummit #LiveDesk pic.twitter.com/z5pA0jKmvc
— Dan Snyder (@DanSnyderFOX25) July 16, 2018
TV footage shows images of Trump’s motorcade, including the famous “beast” limo, is on the way to the presidential palace where the summit will take place.
The motorcade left at 1.37pm local time (11.37pm BST) according to White House pool reporter Annie Karni.
The second Trump convoy is comically large, it doesn't fit in a single camera frame. pic.twitter.com/9HTNdF1Sd8
— Andrew Roth (@Andrew__Roth) July 16, 2018
Trump is reported to be on his way to the presidential palace. Mark Knoller, from CBS, sets out what to expect next.
Now that Putin has arrived, Pres Trump is on his way to the Presidential Palace. There'll be a guest book signing and official welcome. Also a photo op at the start of the one-on-one meeting with Putin.
— Mark Knoller (@markknoller) July 16, 2018
Andrew Roth has some theories of the power games currently being played.
Some theories on the power politics taking place right now. Putin arrives late but still first and could be seen as welcoming Trump to the presidential palace. Trump counters by sending a massive advance convoy in Mercedes. Still waiting for Trump himself to set off.
— Andrew Roth (@Andrew__Roth) July 16, 2018
Putin’s motorcade has arrived late at the presidential palace in Helsinki for the summit. There’s been no sign yet of Trump. He now appears to be trying to make Putin wait.
There’s lots of this macho stuff: Putin’s limo is slightly bigger than Trump’s.
Expect more.
And now Putin has arrived at the presidential palace in Helsinki. pic.twitter.com/hZCHuItXsf
— William Gallo (@GalloVOA) July 16, 2018
Putin adjusts his suit jacket after limo ride in from the airport, and entering Presidential Palace summit site. pic.twitter.com/kI8zktVtuo
— Mark Knoller (@markknoller) July 16, 2018
Updated
Trump blames Russia rift on US probe, Moscow agrees
Russia’s foreign ministry says it agrees with Trump’s dire assessment that US-Russia relations have never been worse.
We agree https://t.co/7l087Qwmj3
— MFA Russia 🇷🇺 (@mfa_russia) July 16, 2018
As noted earlier, Trump’s view echoes the Kremlin claim that the US is to blame for the deterioration in the relationship.
Updated
White House pool reporter Annie Karni, confirms that Trump has delayed leaving the Hilton Helsinki Kalastajatorppa, en route to the Presidential Palace.
He was due to depart at 12.40 local time (10.40 BST).
The hold up appears to be on Putin’s end as he has just this moment landed in Helsinki.
There has been no response from Trump’s press secretary Sarah Sanders when she was asked about the delay.
Putin briskly stepped off his plane, before being greeted on the tarmac. He took of his jacket and waved for the cameras. And then got into his huge new limo.
He's here: pic.twitter.com/WRGGzEkXNu
— William Gallo (@GalloVOA) July 16, 2018
The Washington Post’s Philip Rucker reminds us that the summit was due to start at 1pm local time (11am BST).
Summit was set to begin 11 minutes ago, but leaders are not at the palace yet. It appears Putin is holding up Trump. Keeping people waiting is the Russian president’s MO to assert dominance.
— Philip Rucker (@PhilipRucker) July 16, 2018
The diplomatic gamesmanship continues.
President Trump and Melania were scheduled to leave their hotel 26 minutes ago. Pool says they are still waiting, presumably on Putin. https://t.co/uHI4yIU4Nu
— Kaitlan Collins (@kaitlancollins) July 16, 2018
Putin arrives in Helsinki
Vladimir Putin’s plane has touched down in the Helsinki almost an hour late.
Putin is running a bit late, but he's arrived here in Helsinki. pic.twitter.com/JROj8ou7HT
— William Gallo (@GalloVOA) July 16, 2018
Wondering how Donald Trump stacks up on being made to wait by Putin?Putin is current about 55 minutes late landing in Helsinki, taking him past Pope Francis (50 mins) and approaching Modi (1 hour). Things get bad at Lukashenka (3 hours) and Merkel (4 hours 15 min). pic.twitter.com/zyfvYazsjk
— Andrew Roth (@Andrew__Roth) July 16, 2018
Russian President Vladimir Putin’s spokesman says he hopes the summit will be a “baby step” toward fixing exceptionally bad US-Russian relations, AP reports.
Ahead of Monday’s meeting, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told broadcaster RT that the men had no strict agenda but recognize their “special responsibility” for global stability.
He said European countries shouldn’t be worried about a possible US-Russian rapprochement or decisions about Europe made “over the heads of Europeans.”
Peskov said the Russian leader respects Trump’s “America first” stance because Putin puts Russia first, but said the only way to make progress at the summit is if both sides are open to finding areas of mutual benefit.
Russian officials say Putin is expected to reiterate denials of meddling in the 2016 US presidential campaign.
The United States is not the only side complaining about cyberattacks ahead of Monday’s summit.
Vladimir Putin told law enforcement officials on Sunday evening that the country had seen a sharp rise in cyberattacks during the World Cup as he thanked Russian law enforcement in person for providing security during the tournament.
“Almost 25 million cyberattacks and other situations of criminal impact on the Russian information infrastructure associated with the organization of the World Cup were neutralized during the championship,” Putin said In Moscow on Sunday evening. The remarks were reported on Monday morning.
Russian officials have pushed the idea of a joint agreement on cybersecurity with the United States for several years. Putin will likely use that fact as a defence when Trump asks about Russia’s election meddling during the 2016 elections, which he said he would “certainly” do in a television interview.
Russia would like an agreement on “informational security,” and includes limits on content that may be objectionable to governments.
That may permit countries to eliminate content from social media sites like Facebook or Twitter that call for protests.
The United States has traditionally defined the issue more closely as cybersecurity, which concerns the use of hacking technology but not content on social media.
Updated
Putin’s trip to Helsinki marks the first foreign trip for the Russian president’s new Cortege limousine, which was unveiled with great fanfare at his inauguration in May.
The Kremlin pool reporter for Komsomolskaya Pravda, Dmitry Smirnov, snapped a picture of the limousine at Helsinki’s airport where Putin is expected to land more than 45 minutes late.
Первый зарубежный выезд «Кортежа»: Лимузин ждет Путина в аэропорту Хельсинки pic.twitter.com/akgrQmaIJJ
— Дмитрий Смирнов (@dimsmirnov175) July 16, 2018
The Kremlin pool arrived earlier in a separate plan and have some time on their hands.
At Putin’s inauguration, the limousine drove him about 200m from the Kremlin’s Senate Building to the Andreevsky Hall.
Monday’s route will be slightly more arduous, usually about a 25-minute ride to the city’s Presidential Palace where he will meet one-on-one with Trump.
He has also shown off the limousine to the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, Mohammed bin Zayed.
The domestically produced luxury car was a point of pride for Putin, who used a Mercedes until this year. The state news agency Sputnik wrote that the car was the first domestically produced limousine for a head of state since Mikhail Gorbachev’s Zil-41052 in 1985.
Putin’s lateness is being interpreted as diplomatic gamesmanship. Speaking to CNN while we still wait for Putin’s plane to land in Helsinki, Thomas Pickering, former US ambassador to the UN, said:
Obviously the lateness is something he could have avoided, so it has some intent. That intent obviously is in some ways to level the playing field of publicity about this meeting so that it isn’t all Trump, whatever he’s saying.
Newspaper billboards in Helsinki attack the record of both Putin and Trump on free speech.
Photograph: LEHTIKUVA/Reuters
Helsingin Sanomat, one of the country’s top news outlets, unveiled nearly 300 billboards calling out the leaders’ respective records of rocky relations with the media. The billboards were placed along the leaders’ route to the summit.
Aside from the welcome billboard which reads “Mr. President, Welcome to the Land of Free Press,” most of the others feature headlines published in the newspaper over the years, according to a press release.
“The headlines highlight the presidents’ turbulent relations with the media and were published between the years 2000 and 2018,” the statement said.
Editor-in-chief Kaius Nieme also explained that the banners are intended as a display of support for “colleagues who have to fight in ever toughening circumstances on a daily basis both in the U.S. and Russia,” noting that both countries sit pretty far down on the 2018 World Press Freedom Index. Russia is ranked 148 and the U.S. sits at 45. Finland is ranked fourth.
Putin running late
Putin already has the edge in pre-summit posturing by keeping Trump waiting. His plane to Helsinki is reported to be running late.
Looks like Putin will keep Trump waiting. He’s landing about 45 minutes late at 5:47 EST, just about the time he was supposed to be arriving at the Presidential Palace. #HelsinkiSummit
— Norah O'Donnell🇺🇸 (@NorahODonnell) July 16, 2018
Updated
European Council president Donald Tusk has suggested that Trump is spreading fake news by telling CBS that the European Union is a foe of the US.
America and the EU are best friends. Whoever says we are foes is spreading fake news.
— Donald Tusk (@eucopresident) July 15, 2018
Trump is confident of getting on with Putin, he told Piers Morgan for ITV’s Good Morning Britain on board air force one.
Trump accepted that Putin “probably is” a ruthless person, but couldn’t tell yet.
Good Morning Britain quoted him saying: “I don’t know him… I met him a couple of times… I think we could probably get along very well”
'I don’t know him… I met him a couple of times… I think we could probably get along very well'
— Good Morning Britain (@GMB) July 16, 2018
President Trump confessed to @GMB he didn’t know Vladimir Putin well. pic.twitter.com/zQ3GEqre55
Russia’s foreign ministry liked Trump’s tweeted about the dire state of US-Russian relations, notes Amie Ferris-Rotman from the Washington Post.
Look who liked this tweet. That sets the tone for #HelsinkiSummit pic.twitter.com/fHM0zCpKBO
— Amie Ferris-Rotman (@Amie_FR) July 16, 2018
Her paper explains that Trump’s tweet echoes Putin’s view that the US — not Russia — is to blame for the poor state of relations between the two countries:
Trump is facing immense pressure to aggressively confront Putin over Russia’s election interference, especially after the Justice Department indicted 12 Russian intelligence officials last Friday and charged them with hacking and stealing Democratic emails, as part of a broad subterfuge operation that U.S. intelligence agencies believe was ordered by Putin to help elect Trump.
But Trump’s comments Monday were in sync with the argument Putin and his government have long made, which is that the policies of the Obama administration — as well as the investigation into election interference, which Putin repeatedly has denied — inflamed tensions between the to nuclear superpowers.
Trump — who has been reticent to criticize Putin and has said he admires the Russian autocrat’s leadership style and strongman image — will meet with Putin at 1 p.m. here at the Presidential Palace, a neoclassical residence facing Helsinki’s heavily touristed Baltic Sea waterfront.
Updated
The White House has issued a transcript of Trump’s remarks about last week’s Nato summit during his breakfast meeting in Helsinki with his Finnish counterpart.
It quotes him saying:
Nato has, I think, never been stronger. And it was really – it was a little bit tough at the beginning, and it turned out to be love. It really was a great meeting that we had and brought everybody together, and, I think, very worthwhile ...
We had a fantastic meeting a few days ago; some of you were there. It was a very successful meeting. I think Nato has never been more together. People are now agreeing to pay, and we were having a lot of problem with a lot of people not paying, as the President will tell you. And they’re paying, and they’re paying more rapidly. And I think Nato has probably never been stronger than it is today.
So we had a fantastic meeting, and now we’re capping it with being in Finland. And the hospitality has been fantastic.
Updated
Hillary Clinton has questioned Trump’s loyalty to the US in a barbed tweet ahead of the summit.
Tweeting after the World Cup final when Putin oversaw a thrilling final between France and Croatia, she said: “Great World Cup. Question for President Trump as he meets Putin: Do you know which team you play for?”
Great World Cup. Question for President Trump as he meets Putin: Do you know which team you play for?
— Hillary Clinton (@HillaryClinton) July 16, 2018
One of Putin’s most vocal opponents, Garry Kasparov, says Trump has already given in to Russia by agreeing to the summit.
Putin would like normalization of relations & lifting of all sanctions, but knows that's too much too soon, and increasingly out of Trump's hands. He'll get more chaos & division, talk token pseudo-concessions, peace for our time BS. Lots of photos, posturing.
— Garry Kasparov (@Kasparov63) July 16, 2018
Meanwhile, all the US needs from Putin is to NOT give him those things, to not enable him but to deter him. We will see if Trump wants what the US needs this time. Gifting Putin this summit is already a failure.
— Garry Kasparov (@Kasparov63) July 16, 2018
Greenpeace activists have attached a banner about global warning on Helsinki’s Kallio Church to coincide with the summit. “Warm out hearts not our planet”, the banner pleaded.
Protesters came out on Sunday to attack both Trump and Putin before the summit.
“Not welcome,” read one sign, held by Hemmo Siponen, showing a cartoon of Trump and Putin embracing. “Fuck you both,” read another carried by two young women.
“It doesn’t feel good to have them here,” said Anna Bruun, a civil servant who said she was opposed to “great power politics” playing out in her home city.
More protestors at #HelsinkiSummit pic.twitter.com/wDPAjiNVdU
— Michael McFaul (@McFaul) July 16, 2018
Updated
Trump has left the Mäntyniemi Residence, where he had a breakfast meeting with the President of Finland, Sauli Niinistö.
TV footage showed Trump waving to reporters as he left. Next up is the one-to-one meeting with Vladimir Putin.
Breakfast with @niinisto has ended. pic.twitter.com/BtPDrfIRS2
— Steve Herman (@W7VOA) July 16, 2018
Ahead of the Helsinki summit, the European council president, Donald Tusk, has warned that it is the responsibility of the major powers to uphold rules-based order, not destroy it and pave the way to war.
Speaking at an EU-China summit in Beijing, Tusk said:
“Today, on the same day as Europe meets China in Beijing, American President Trump and Russian President Putin will talk in Helsinki, we are all aware of the fact that the architecture of the world is changing before our very eyes. And it is our common responsibility to make it a change for the better.
Let us remember, here in Beijing, and over there, in Helsinki, that the world we were building for decades, sometimes through disputes, has brought about peace for Europe, the development of China, and the end of the Cold War between the East and the West.”
“It is a common duty of Europe and China, America and Russia, not to destroy this order, but to improve it. Not to start trade wars, which turned into hot conflicts so often in our history, but to bravely and responsibly reform the rules-based international order.”
White House reporter Annie Karni reports from the Hilton Kalastajatorppa in Helsinki:
First stop for the president and the first lady today was the Mäntyniemi Residence, for an official greeting by the President of Finland, Sauli Niinistö, and the First Lady of Finland, Jenni Haukio, followed by a breakfast.
After arriving at the residence they were given what seemed like short tour of the grounds, by Niinistö and the First Lady of Finland.
At a breakfast meeting Trump said: “Nato has, I think, never been stronger. It was a little bit tough at the beginning, but it turned out to be love. I appreciated your support.”
A reporter asked what was his message to Putin? Trump replied: “We’ll see him a little while....We’ll do just fine.”
On why he picked Helsinki for the summit: “We think Finland’s a great country. We had a fantastic meeting a few days ago, some of you were there, it was a very successful meeting. Nato has never been more together. People are now agreeing to pay. We were having a lot of problems with a lot people not paying, as the president will tell you...They’re paying more rapidly. And it’s probably never been stronger than it is today. We had a fantastic meeting and now we’re capping it with being in Finland. And the hospitality has been fantastic.”
Trump ignored this question: “Will you tell President Putin that election meddling is a red line?”
Updated
Trump is having breakfast with the president of Finland where he described the Nato summit as “tough” at first “but it turned out to be love”.
He has also been tweeting, notably blaming Mueller rather than Russian meddling: “Our relationship with Russia has NEVER been worse thanks to many years of U.S. foolishness and stupidity and now, the Rigged Witch Hunt!”
Trump meets Putin at 11.20am UK time with handshakes and photos expected.
Trump and Putin will hold joint press conference at 2.50pm UK time.
Trump leaves Finland at 4.55pm UK time.
Updated
Preview
President Donald Trump has arrived in Helsinki for his high-stakes summit with Vladimir Putin and has already fired off a series of bombastic tweets.
He said America’s relationship with Russia has never been worse thanks to “many years of US foolishness and stupidity” and the current investigation into Russian meddling in the US election, which he again dismissed as a “rigged witch hunt”.
Our relationship with Russia has NEVER been worse thanks to many years of U.S. foolishness and stupidity and now, the Rigged Witch Hunt!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 16, 2018
Trump also claimed his predecessor Barack Obama “did nothing” about Russian meddling in the election.
President Obama thought that Crooked Hillary was going to win the election, so when he was informed by the FBI about Russian Meddling, he said it couldn’t happen, was no big deal, & did NOTHING about it. When I won it became a big deal and the Rigged Witch Hunt headed by Strzok!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 16, 2018
And in another tweet he claimed his highly strained meeting with Nato last week was a “great summit”. This comes just hours after he described the European Union as a “foe”.
Received many calls from leaders of NATO countries thanking me for helping to bring them together and to get them focused on financial obligations, both present & future. We had a truly great Summit that was inaccurately covered by much of the media. NATO is now strong & rich!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 16, 2018
Note the omission of other keys such as Ukraine, the Salisbury poisoning, Iran, North Korea, and Syria, and the glossing over of Friday’s charges against 12 Russian agents by the US justice department over Kremlin meddling in Trump’s election.
Ahead of his European trip last week, Trump said his meeting with Putin would be the easy bit in a schedule that involved a Nato meeting and a visit to the UK “in turmoil” after cabinet resignations over Brexit.
Analysts reckon it will be anything but easy whatever Trump says.
Simon Tisdall previews today’s Helsinki meeting:
Within hours of arriving in Europe, Donald Trump was busy insulting America’s closest friends and threatening to dismember Nato. He publicly humiliated Theresa May and did his importunate best to force regime change in Westminster, before halfheartedly apologising. Now he takes his ugly brand of rogue-male politics to Helsinki for a meeting with his best buddy, prominent campaign supporter and fellow narcissist, Russia’s Vladimir Putin. This is an ominous, possibly watershed moment for Europe, full of fear and loathing.
The Guardian’s editorial predicts that Putin will emerge the winner amid concern about what the result of the summit will mean for the rest of the world.
Putin brings experience, preparation, ruthless discipline and actual goals: he is the poker ace facing a man who has mastered only beggar-my-neighbour. So any substantive discussions between the men may be more worrying than the omissions. (Only Mr Trump could make the prospect of “surprising” outcomes in Helsinki sound quite so ominous.) Their shared hostility to Nato, the EU and established US alliances is alarming. And we do not know why Mr Trump wants this meeting, beyond enjoying the spotlight.
