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Trump and Putin met twice at G20 in Germany Trump and Putin held another, undisclosed talks at G20 in Germany
(about 2 hours later)
US President Donald Trump met Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin at a second, previously undisclosed meeting at this month's G20, it has emerged. US President Donald Trump met his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, at another, previously undisclosed meeting at this month's G20, the White House has confirmed.
They held talks after a formal sit down but the White House has not revealed details of what they discussed. They spoke towards the end of a formal dinner but the White House has not revealed what was discussed.
President Trump dismissed suggestions of a "secret dinner" as "fake news". President Trump has condemned media revelations of the meeting as "sick".
The two leaders' relationship is under intense scrutiny amid allegations of collusion between Russia and the Trump campaign. The two leaders' relationship is under scrutiny amid allegations of Russian interference in the US election.
US intelligence believe Russia helped Mr Trump in last year's presidential election, something denied by Russia. Mr Trump has rejected any collusion. US intelligence agencies believe Moscow tried to tip the election in Mr Trump's favour, something denied by Russia. Mr Trump has rejected allegations of any collusion.
The second meeting happened during a private meal of heads of state at the G20 summit in Hamburg earlier in the month. The extra meeting happened during a private meal of heads of state at the G20 summit in Hamburg earlier in the month.
The US president was alone, and Mr Putin was attended only by his official interpreter, with US media saying it lasted an hour. Mr Trump left his seat and headed to Mr Putin, who had been sitting next to Mr Trump's wife, Melania, US media said. The US president was alone with Mr Putin, apart from the attendance of the Russian president's official interpreter.
The only version of what was discussed was provided to White House officials by Mr Trump himself, as there were no other US aides present at the conversation. Mr Trump had been seated next to Japanese PM Shinzo Abe's wife, so the US interpreter at the dinner spoke Japanese, not Russia. No media were in attendance.
The White House confirmation came after media reports revealed the encounter. An official described the interaction as a "brief conversation", not a "second meeting". The length of the meeting has been disputed.
A Russian translator was used, the official added, because the US translator at the dinner did not speak Russian. Ian Bremmer, president of the US-based Eurasia Group, who first reported the talks in a newsletter to clients, said: "Donald Trump got up from the table and sat down with Putin for about an hour. It was very animated and very friendly."
The talks were first reported by Ian Bremmer, president of the US-based Eurasia Group, in a newsletter to clients. He described that both talked "privately and animatedly" and that the lack of a US translator had raised eyebrows at the dinner. No-one else was nearby, so the topics of discussion were not known, he said.
The White House official added that the "insinuation" that the government had "tried to 'hide' a second meeting is false, malicious and absurd". Mr Bremmer had not been at the meeting but said details had been given to him by unnamed attendees who, he said, were "flummoxed, confused and startled" by the turn of events.
In a statement, a senior White House official said there was no "second meeting", just a brief conversation after dinner.
The official said: "The insinuation that the White House has tried to 'hide' a second meeting is false, malicious and absurd. It is not merely perfectly normal, it is part of a president's duties, to interact with world leaders."
National Security Council spokesman Michael Anton said it was not a meeting but a "pull aside", adding: "A conversation over dessert should not be characterised as a meeting.
Mr Trump later said on Twitter: "Fake News story of secret dinner with Putin is 'sick.' All G20 leaders, and spouses, were invited by the Chancellor of Germany. Press knew!"Mr Trump later said on Twitter: "Fake News story of secret dinner with Putin is 'sick.' All G20 leaders, and spouses, were invited by the Chancellor of Germany. Press knew!"
At the formal meeting, their first face-to-face encounter, Mr Trump said he repeatedly pressed Mr Putin about the allegations of interference in the US vote. The dinner and its attendees have always been known. Only the Trump-Putin discussion had not been reported before.
At the earlier, formal meeting, their first face-to-face encounter, Mr Trump said he had repeatedly pressed Mr Putin about the allegations of interference in the US vote.
"I said, 'Did you do it?' He said, 'No, I did not, absolutely not.' I then asked him a second time, in a totally different way. He said, 'Absolutely not.'""I said, 'Did you do it?' He said, 'No, I did not, absolutely not.' I then asked him a second time, in a totally different way. He said, 'Absolutely not.'"
There are congressional investigations, and one by a special counsel, into the allegations of Russian interference in the US election and possible collusion with the Trump team.
Trump at six months
Meanwhile, the White House said Mr Trump would nominate former Utah governor Jon Huntsman as ambassador to Russia, a key post for a president who promised to improve relations with Moscow.Meanwhile, the White House said Mr Trump would nominate former Utah governor Jon Huntsman as ambassador to Russia, a key post for a president who promised to improve relations with Moscow.
Mr Huntsman, who served as ambassador to China and Singapore, needs to have his name confirmed by the Senate.Mr Huntsman, who served as ambassador to China and Singapore, needs to have his name confirmed by the Senate.
The suspicions over Russian interference in the election are likely to play a significant factor in his confirmation process, correspondents say. The suspicions over Russian interference are likely to play a significant factor in his confirmation process, correspondents say.
Trump at six months