The world is watching Helsinki: what do you think of Trump and Putin?

Donald Trump attracts attention because he is unconventional, un-diplomatic and rude. Sometimes it's as consistent. In his election campaign, the current US president has already spoken of rapprochement with Russia. On Monday, Trump wanted to lay the groundwork for his first official summit in Helsinki with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Trump began his day with a breakfast to the Finnish president and a vague Twitter. He praised NATO, denounced the predecessor Obama and referred to the Russian investigation on the special prosecutor Robert Mueller as a "witch hunt". On the way to Helsinki, he had already criticized the press: he could never succeed at this summit if he would bring back Moscow as a trophy, the press would wonder why he had not also conquered St. Petersburg

Politicians, diplomats and analysts all over the world had meanwhile an uncomfortable premonition: what will invent Trump and Putin? ] The two gentlemen, who met twice before, wanted a lot high and would benefit from a smooth show that breathes the decision The grandeur of the presidential palace in Helsinki should contribute, even if Trump considered the Finnish capital as a Backdrop Too soft, so expect friendly words, and in the case of Trump, rely on the frequent use of the superlative, the encounter itself is part of the result.

See also: Indictment against a dozen Russian spies puts a bomb under the top Trump-Putin

There is no order of the formal day, "said Trump. The meeting is loose, there is no major program and it will not last too long, he said last week in Brussels. He meets Putin around 13:00, followed by a lunch and a press conference. For those who do not have much faith in Trump's political arts, a "free" meeting without a calendar is not particularly reassuring.

Europeans are worried

The Europeans are not at all comfortable after Trump's erratic performances last week. He nearly cushioned the NATO summit by demanding that defense spending in Europe increase, he insulted Germany, which receives gas from Russia, and he, in the UK, the United States. retired stewardess Theresa May through her Brexit variant falling and defying her opponent Boris Johnson

See also: Trump destroying Prime Minister May's Brexit plans

A man who loves to confront his allies must now defend the interests of these same allies in Helsinki. "Helsinki is perhaps even more important than Brussels," said a NATO diplomat. "The unity we are trying to radiate here can be eliminated in one movement."

In the United States, Democrats and some Republicans have called on Trump to break this weekend at the top, after the Russian's twelve spy spies on Friday. He had been asked to intervene in the 2016 presidential election The idea that the Russians contributed to Trump's victory and that Trump is not openly opposed to Putin is already hovering over the meeting like a dark cloud. In the Middle East and Eastern Europe too, the rally is followed by pointed ears. Although there is no official agenda, according to Trump, Syria, the Baltic states, Ukraine and Crimea are on the lunch menu, as is disarmament .

It is high time that East and West approach. Since the Russian annexation of Crimea (2014) and the interference in Ukraine, which were sanctioned by the West with sanctions, the conversation between the two groups has practically stopped. Because Russia has once again sided with President Bashar al-Assad in the Syrian civil war (2015), East and West have also clashed in the Middle East. UN Secretary-General António Guterres speaks of a "new cold war"

Questioning

Detente is therefore required, but under acceptable conditions. And that's where the interrogation points begin. The West does not recognize the annexation of Crimea. Trump says when he is asked that it is an Obama problem, that this would never have happened had he already been president. What does it mean?

Putin wants to get rid of Western military exercises in the Baltic states. "We'll talk about it," says Trump. Does he want to suspend exercises? It is no secret that Trump would like to withdraw the remaining US troops from Syria. According to The New Yorker Trump's friends urged Saudi Arabia and Israel to the next trade: Putin lobbied Iran for him to withdraw from Syria, in exchange for lifting the sanctions. How is it?

There is an urgent need for new disarmament talks. An important treaty, New Start, in which Russia and the United States agree to limit their arsenal of strategic nuclear weapons, will expire in 2021 and needs to be expanded. The medium-weapons arms convention had been a success, but Russia and the United States now blame themselves for not being compliant. The resumption of disarmament talks would be a boost – especially for Europe. More than just a show at this summit.

What is Trump himself waiting for? "We'll see, it could be productive, very productive," he said in Brussels. "And maybe not."