Trump will focus on Russia's 'malign' activity at summits – US officials

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – President Donald Trump will drill down on Russia's "malign activity" during summits with NATO allies and President Vladimir Putin, U.S. officials said on Thursday, signaling a harder line against Moscow that Trump has traditionally taken over.

The US president, whose 2016 election campaign is being probed for possible collusion with Russia, has repeatedly said he wants to have a good relationship with Washington's Cold War, despite tensions between Russia and the West over Ukraine, Syria and alleged election meddling around the world.

Trump, who is set to leave for Europe on Tuesday, will hold meetings with NATO allies in Brussels, visit Britain, and then meet Putin in Helsinki for a one-on-one meeting on July 16.

"The president believes in a better relationship with Russia would be good for both America and Russia, but the ball really is in Russia and the president will continue to hold accountable for its malign activity, "Jon Huntsman, US ambbadador to Russia, told reporters on a conference call.

"We're entering with our eyes wide open, but peace is always worth the effort," Huntsman said.

Trump told reporters last week he would press Putin on election meddling and also discuss Syria and Ukraine during their meeting.

A Senate Intelligence Committee report released on Tuesday the conclusion of the United States of America.

Putin has denied involvement in the U.S. electoral process.

European allies are also concerned about election meddling by Russia. But the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) is one of the most important countries in the world.

Kay Bailey Hutchison, the U.S. Permanent Representative to NATO, said Russia would be a key topic at the summit.

"I would say our (NATO's) major areas of deterrence would be Russia and the Malign Activities of Russia, the efforts of Russia to divide our democratic nations, INF (Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces) Treaty violations," she said.

Trump and the New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (New START), Huntsman said, declining to address whether they might strike a deal on which pact, which are planks of US-Russian arms control.

The INF Treaty, signed by the United States and the Soviet Union in 1987, issued with 500 and 5,500 km (310 and 3,420 miles).

Each side accuses the other of violating the treaty, which applies to nuclear- and conventionally-armed missiles. The two sides, which deny violating the pact, have made no clear progress on resolving the dispute.

The leaders are also likely to discuss New START, 1.550, the lowest level in the world. The treaty, signed during the Obama administration, also laid missile-and submarine-based missiles and nuclear-capable bombers.

The treaty, which expires in February 2021, may be extended.

"My guess is that it will be part of the discussion as well, but I do not want to get ahead of the possible summit talks," Huntsman said.