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Donald Trump blames US 'witch-hunt' for poor Putin relations Donald Trump blames US 'witch-hunt' for poor Putin relations
(35 minutes later)
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. Donald Trump has dealt a fresh blow to hopes that he will confront the Russian president, Vladimir Putin, over election interference as they met, blaming the US 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!”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. Trump made the startling claim before his first, high-risk summit with Putin in Helsinki.
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. Not for the first time in his long career, Putin arrived later than expected, forcing his counterpart to wait. The Russian president touched down just after 1pm local time (1100 BST), 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. Trump and Putin came face to face at the palace in Helsinki about 50 minutes later than scheduled and both made brief remarks before the media.
Wearing a blue suit, white shirt and red tie, the US president congratulated Putin on Russia’s hosting of the football World Cup, “one of the best ever, from what everybody tells me”, adding that he had watched the semi-finals and final and it was “beautifully done”. Wearing a blue suit, white shirt and red tie, the US president congratulated Putin on Russia’s hosting of the World Cup, “one of the best ever, from what everybody tells me”, adding that he had watched the semi-finals and final and it was “beautifully done”.
Trump said the leaders’ discussions would cover trade, the military, missiles, nuclear, China – “our mutual friend, President Xi” – but did not mention election interference.Trump said the leaders’ discussions would cover trade, the military, missiles, nuclear, China – “our mutual friend, President Xi” – but did not mention election interference.
He said: “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 ... But I think we will end up having an extraordinary relationship. I hope so.” “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 … But I think we will end up having an extraordinary relationship. I hope so,” he said.
He repeated a sentiment that he often expressed during the presidential election campaign: “Getting along with Russia is a good thing, not a bad thing.” Trump repeated a sentiment that he often expressed during his presidential campaign: “Getting along with Russia is a good thing, not a bad thing.”
The US and Russia were the “two great nuclear powers”, Trump added. “We have 90% of the nuclear and that’s not a good thing, that’s a bad thing, and I think we hopefully can do something about that because it’s not a positive force, it’s a negative force, so we’ll be talking about that among other things.”The US and Russia were the “two great nuclear powers”, Trump added. “We have 90% of the nuclear and that’s not a good thing, that’s a bad thing, and I think we hopefully can do something about that because it’s not a positive force, it’s a negative force, so we’ll be talking about that among other things.”
He shook Putin’s hand and ignored shouted questions about election interference. There were six flags on display: three American, three Russian.He shook Putin’s hand and ignored shouted questions about election interference. There were six flags on display: three American, three Russian.
Before the meeting the president also repeated his belief that his predecessor Barack Obama had failed to act on the Russian attack. He wrote on Twitter that Obama “thought that Crooked Hillary was going to win the election”, so he did “NOTHING” about it when informed by the FBI. Before the meeting, the president repeated his claim that Barack Obama had failed to act over the Russian attack. He wrote on Twitter that Obama “thought that Crooked Hillary was going to win the election”, so he did “NOTHING” about it when informed by the FBI.
Trump has adopted the phrase “Rigged Witch Hunt!” to describe special counsel Robert Mueller’s investigation into meddling in the 2016 presidential election which last week indicted a dozen Russian military intelligence officers for hacking and leaking Democratic party emails. Trump has adopted the phrase “Rigged Witch Hunt!” to describe the investigation by the special counsel, Robert Mueller, into meddling in the 2016 presidential election, which last week indicted 12 Russian military intelligence officers for hacking and leaking Democratic party emails.
Political opponents have urged Trump, who denies collusion, to use the summit to challenge Putin about the hacking and other malign activities. They have also been withering about his constant refusal to criticise Putin, who is basking in the successful hosting of the football World Cup. Political opponents have urged Trump, who denies collusion, to use the summit to challenge Putin about the hacking and other malign activities. They have also been withering about his constant refusal to criticise the Russian president, who is basking in the successful hosting of the World Cup.
Trump’s defeated 2016 election rival Hillary Clinton tweeted: “Great World Cup. Question for President Trump as he meets Putin: Do you know which team you play for?” Hillary Clinton tweeted: “Great World Cup. Question for President Trump as he meets Putin: Do you know which team you play for?”
During a breakfast meeting with Finland’s president in Helsinki on Monday morning, Trump appeared in positive mood, claiming success at last week’s Nato summit. Asked what he would say to the Russian leader, Trump said: “We’ll do just fine, thank you.” During a breakfast meeting with Finland’s president in Helsinki on Monday, Trump appeared to be in a positive mood, claiming success at the Nato summit last week. Asked what he would say to the Russian president, Trump said: “We’ll do just fine, thank you.”
Foreign policy experts have raised concerns that, during one-on-one talks without a clear agenda, Trump might seek to make a grand gesture that offers Putin serious concessions on Crimea, Syria or Ukraine. Foreign policy experts have raised concerns that during one-on-one talks without a clear agenda, Trump might seek to make a grand gesture that would offer Putin serious concessions on Crimea, Syria or Ukraine.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said he hoped the summit would be “the first step” in overcoming a crisis in diplomatic relations. “Presidents Trump and Putin respect each other and they get along well,” he told Russia’s RT television. “There is no clear agenda. It will be determined by the heads of state themselves as they go along.” Dmitry Peskov, the Kremlin spokesman, said he hoped the summit would be “the first step” in overcoming a crisis in diplomatic relations.
“Presidents Trump and Putin respect each other and they get along well,” he told Russia’s RT television. “There is no clear agenda. It will be determined by the heads of state themselves as they go along.”
US foreign policyUS foreign policy
Donald TrumpDonald Trump
Vladimir PutinVladimir Putin
RussiaRussia
EuropeEurope
US elections 2016US elections 2016
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