Trump and Putin prepared for a "diplomatic dance" in Helsinki

This was to be followed by a press conference of the two leaders around midnight, Australian time

"If we could develop a relationship that is good for Russia, good for us, good for everyone, it would be great," he said. 19659006] But Trump told CBS "I'm going with very low expectations, I think that talking to Russia is a good thing, but we may not be doing it."

] Loading

And he said that he "had not thought" to ask Putin for the extradition of Russians. On Friday, Trump suggested that one of his main goals was to discuss nuclear proliferation.

"When the meeting was organized, it was not from my point of view with high expectations, but you can come out with something exceptional," he said. Proliferation is for me the biggest problem in the world … so if we can do something to reduce nuclear weapons, it may be a dream but it is a subject that I will address. "

Trump deliberately left the place to an agreement with Putin or showed good will during the sep t last days on the placement of US troops and NATO exercises in Eastern Europe, and the status of Crimea after its annexation by Russia.

John Bolton, National Security Advisor of the White House The objectives of the meeting were to raise the issue of electoral interference: "so that the President can reach an agreement with President Putin and ask him questions about it, "he said. would "absolutely firmly ask the question" if Russia had interfered in her election, however "I do not think you'll have any & # 39; gee I did you (moment)" … it n & # 39; There will not be a Perry Mason here "

US Ambbadador to Russia, Jon Huntsman, said on Sunday that there were no series of goals for President

"You do not know what will come out of this meeting," said Huntsman, it was not a summit but a "meeting" where the two leaders would have "a conversation." [19659016] Teppo Marttila, dressed as Uncle Sam, takes part in the demonstration of the young members of the True Finns in support of Donald Trump in Helsinki on Sunday ” srcset=”https://static.ffx.io/images/$zoom_0.257%2C$multiply_0.7252124645892352%2C$ratio_1.776846%2C$width_1059%2C$x_0%2C$y_34/t_crop_custom/t_sharpen%2Cq_auto%2Cf_auto/fed4905f0f8cbbb2942a9196594dd76398f5a9bd” itemprop=”image”/>

"I hope it is a e detailed discussion about where we might be able to find overlaps and "it's an attempt to see if we can diffuse and take some of the drama and frankly part of the danger of the relationship right now ", he said.

It was "The President would change the position of the United States that Russia had violated international law by annexing Crimea in 2014.

" Trump likes to build a relationship, a relationship, before 39 "get into the flesh of anything," said Jan Halper-Hayes, a US government adviser who was closely involved in preparing for the Helsinki meeting.

Dr. Halper-Hayes is a former Vice President of Republicans Overseas and member of Trump's post-election transition team and very familiar with Trump

"(Trump and Putin) are going to be like two years that check each other, or animals pacing, they will check each other … all two trying to figure out if they can make a report, "said Halper-Hayes

. He is a KGB agent, he is going to thwart Trump – no, he is not. "

She said that Trump was well prepared for the meeting and" very clear on where he will go and where he will not go "- and in the latter category was changing US policy on Crimea.

On Syria, Halpe Hayes said that Trump's goal was to weaken ties between the Russian and Iran and Syrian leader Assad. "It's probably unlikely so I think that's what will really happen, it is that Trump will put the problems before (Putin) and see "

The most optimistic result of the meeting would be" pragmatic cooperation, "she said.

"It's a diplomatic dance, and they'll decide if they're going to dance. . Trust and fairness are Trump's key values, and he will want to feel that he can develop trust with Putin. "

She expected Putin to attempt a trump state visit to Moscow or Washington DC Loading

The spokesman for Kremlin, Dmitry Peskov, told RT that the goal was to "develop a mutually beneficial cooperation … a baby step"

Trump is the fourth consecutive US president to hold a summit with Putin – although the White House does not want to grant it summit status. Former President Ronald Reagan's adviser compared him to the Reykjavik meeting in 1986 between Reagan and Mikhail Gorbachev: "Come as you are a free wheel drive".

Putin arrives at the meeting after a World Cup widely acclaimed as a success, not least for the performance of the Russian team

However, his country suffers economic sanctions, the Kremlin is under increasing pressure on the fallout of the attempted murder with a toxic chemical from ex-spy Sergei Skripal in the UK who appears to have claimed a Innocent Life, and US Special Advisor Charged 12 Russian Intelligence Officers About Democratic Party Email Piracy

The popularity in Russia has dropped sharply since the recent elections despite the World Cup, largely because of An increase in the age of retirement.

However Trump still votes much lower in his own country.

Trump arrives at the end of a controversial visit to Europe during which he fought with Germany for his dependence on Russian oil and gas, threatened to withdraw from the European defense if NATO countries do not increase Brexit led by British leader Theresa May plans and stimulates his political rival

Loading ]

The leaders were greeted in Helsinki by protests but the capital was unusually empty. many Finns had fled to their summer retreats to avoid road closures and disruption. A local complained that he gave 40 extra minutes to get to work on Sunday, but was still late.

But Finnish President Sauli Niinisto survived the 2004 earthquake and tsunami in the Indian Ocean. his son – will still count the meeting as a diplomatic victory.

His popularity at home is partly due to his ability to balance close relations with NATO and Russia. Finland has a long border and a history of wars with Russia and supports economic sanctions against its neighbor, but Niinisto has always favored engagement rather than antagonism – he was the first Western leader to meet Putin after the annexation of Crimea, for example. ] The most viewed in the world

Loading