Donald Trump Meets Vladimir Putin: Analysis of the Summit – The US President Was Attacked for "Treason"

I do not know if this will affect his approval ratings … but the Helsinki press The conference * really goes against the idea that Trump is strong and hard and has the back of America, attributes that suit it well and seem fundamental to its appeal.

– Nate Silver (@ NateSilver538) July 16, 2018 [19659011] The summit began a few hours after Trump, in a series of tweets, accused his own country, rather than Russia, of hostilities between their two nations.

Speaking first to the news conference, Putin said that a frank and professional atmosphere, "adding," I think we can call it a success. "He said that although bilateral relations have" gone through a complicated phase, "there was" no solid reason "for that." The cold war is a thing of the past, "he said.

He later added that Trump "mentioned the alleged interference of Russia in the US elections" in 2016. Putin again denied any involvement of the Russian state and Putin later said in response to a question that US investigators could possibly come to Russia to participate in the interrogation of suspects after a dozen Russian police officers were indicted.In the United States, accused of electoral interference.

Elaborating, Putin said representatives of the Mueller probe could be present at the interrogations of suspects in Russia – as long as the Russians would be able to do the same during interrogations of US intelligence agents. u suspects of committing crimes on Russian soil. According to him, any interference by Russia in the US elections should be settled by the courts and in accordance with existing intergovernmental agreements.

Some thoughts on the extraordinary meeting today. Vladimir #Putin hinted that the FSB did indeed #kompromat on Trump. Putin said that he did not know about the visit of #Trump in Moscow, so this material can not exist. A non sequitur. Conclusion: There is a cassette

– Luke Harding (@ lukeharding1968) July 16, 2018

"That the Mueller commission sends us a request, and we will do the necessary work to answer it," said M . Putin. "We can expand this cooperation – but we will also wait for US access to people we believe to be members of intelligence agencies."

In response to questions, Trump said the two countries were responsible for deteriorating relations. "I think we both made some mistakes," he said. He added that "there was no collusion" between his campaign and Russia, and he lamented that the Special Advisor's investigation had an impact on US-Russian relations. .

"I think the investigation was disastrous," he said. "It's ridiculous what's going on with the probe."

Trump critics reacted The former director of the CIA, John Brennan, wrote in a tweet: "The press conference of Donald Trump in Helsinki exceeds the threshold of" high crimes and offenses ". It was nothing less than betrayal: not only were Trump's comments foolish, but quite in Putin's pocket … Republican patriots: Where are you? "

" Conscious tool. maybe true – the main question is the proportions. "

C is @jamesfallows a commentator not known for cheap hyperbole." Https://t.co/as4TmnXt0Y

– Ezra Klein (@ezraklein) July 16 2018

Senator Jeff Flake, (R), a frequent Trump critic on the Republican side, said: "I have never thought I would see the day our American President would come on the scene with the President. Russian and would accuse the United States of Russian aggression, which is shameful.

Senator Lindsey Graham (R) tweeted: President Trump missed the opportunity to hold Russia accountable for the 2016 interference and to issue a stern warning regarding future elections, response that President Trump will see as a sign of weakness and will create many more problems than he resolves. "

Referring to a souvenir soccer ball that Putin handed Trump towards the end of the press conference, Graham added," Finally, if it was me, I would check the football to listen to the devices and would never leave him in the White House. "19659002] Trump said before the meeting in camera that he and Putin had a" lo "trade, military issues, nuclear proliferation and China, especially their" friend common ", the Chinese President Xi Jinping

Trump did not mention Russia.Interference in the 2016 presidential campaign as one of the topics to discuss before the start of the meeting.

The meeting started later than originally planned, after the late arrival of Putin in Helsinki late, keeping Trump on hold. The one-to-one meeting lasted about two hours, longer than expected. seen taking 90 minutes. [19659002] The two leaders then met in an expanded meeting that included senior officials. At first, Trump, answering a question posed by a reporter, said, "I think it's a good start. Very, very good start for everyone."

Although most US officials argue that the US presidential election, the use of a nerve agent on British soil and aggression in Ukraine and Syria have deteriorated the relations, Trump blamed "American stupidity and stupidity" in the tweets, as well as the investigation of the Ministry of Justice on the electoral intrusion in Russia.
"Our relationship with Russia has never been worse thanks to many years of stupidity and stupidity of the United States and now, witch hunt!" Trump is facing immense pressure to attack Putin aggressively over Russian electoral interference, especially after the Justice Ministry indicted 12 Russian intelligence agents and accused them of hacking and stealing Democratic emails, As part of a large-scale subterfuge operation that US intelligence agencies believe have been commissioned by Putin to help elect Trump.

But Trump 's comments today were consistent with the argument that Putin and his government have made for a long time. The administration – as well as the investigation into electoral interference, which Putin denied on several occasions – ignited tensions between the two nuclear superpowers

The official Twitter account of the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs Foreigners retweeted Trump's tweet "Trumpet and Stupidity". . "

A senior Western diplomat calls Trump's comments with Putin" devastating "&" pathet "ic." A German official told CNN that the press conference was "scary" and that the Germans (for the first time since 1948) see the need for a strategy that treats the United States as an ADVERSARY. via @eliselabottcnn

– Will Ripley (@willripleyCNN) July 16, 2018

In another tweet, Trump was looking to blame the Obama affair.

"President Obama thought Hillary was going to win the election, so when he was informed by the FBI of Russian Meddling, he said that it could not happen, was not a big deal , and did nothing … Witch Hunt led by Strzok! "Trump wrote, referring to the 2016 first Democratic presidential candidate, Hillary Clinton, then to the FBI agent, Peter Strzok, who testified before Congress at a combative hearing last week

. big city of Moscow in retaliation for all the sins and evils committed by Russia over the years, I would go back to the criticism that it was not good enough – that I would have had St. Petersburg in addition ! "Trump tweeted."

And after a week of smearing US media on foreign soil, Trump continued in his tweetstorm: "Much of our media is indeed the enemy of the people and all the dems can resist and "

Putin's allies say last weekend's indictments represented Washington's last establishment effort to frustrate Trump's efforts to improve relations. "It seems to us that opponents of improved US-Russian relations should not be allowed to continually exploit this dangerous subject, which is artificially kept alive," said Putin's Foreign Policy Adviser Yuri Ushakov. . top, according to Interfax.