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HELSINKI (AP) – Russia's Vladimir Putin said Monday he did not want to go back to the presidential election. (19659002) Trump and Putin "The President of the United States of America." But Trump did not strongly condemn the interference efforts, which US intelligence agencies insist did occur, including hacking of Democratic emails, the subject of last week's indictment of 12 Russians.
Trump said, "he has countless times, that there was" no collusion "between his campaign and the Russians. Putin, have always, denied all. The two leaders spoke at a joint news conference.
Trump, in opening remarks, said that US-Russia relations had been at their highest point in the face of a high-anticipated summit. [19659005] "That changed," Trump said, "As of about four hours ago."
Trump also said, "We are a brilliant campaign and that's why." I'm president. "
The summit began just hours after Trump blamed the United States – and not Russian meddling election or its annexation of Crimea – for a low-point in US-Russia relations. The drama was playing out against a backdrop of fraying Western alliances, a new peak in the Russia investigation and fears that Moscow's aggression may go unchallenged.
"Our relationship with Russia has NEVER been worse," Trump tweeted Monday morning, blaming " The Responsibility of the United States of America, the Rigged Witch Hunt! "
The Russian Foreign Ministry Responding to the Tweet and Rejecting Responses for anything, Trump said he held "both countries responsible" thinks the United States has been "fooling" and that "we're all to blame."
"The probe in a disaster for our country. all "
Putin, speaking through an interpreter, once again denied what he describes as" so-called interference of Russia. " He called it "nonsense" and insisted on the Russian state of interfering and would never interfere in the American electoral process.
The peer had opened their long-awaited summit on Monday.
"We have not been getting along well for the last number of years," Trump said After arriving at the Presidential Palace in Finland's capital, where the leaders are meeting. "But I think we will end up having an extraordinary relationship. …"
Putin, for his part, said he and Trump have maintained regular contact with each other. meetings at international events "The time has come to have a discussion on various international problems and sensitive issues." He added: "They were quite a few of them for us to pay attention to."
Their opening on one day was scheduled to run 90 minutes. The Russians said it lasted two hours and 10 minutes. The White House (19659002) The summit, which is being closely watched around the world, Trump and Putin have held talks. They put on the sidelines of world leaders in Germany and Vietnam last year. But Monday's session was condemned in advance by the members of the United States of America in the United States of America. raise the meddling issue again with Putin, but questions have been swirling about whether Trump will sharply and publicly rebuke his counterpart for the interference that prompted a special investigation that Trump has repeatedly labeled "witch hunt."
Addressing reporters before the one-on-one meeting, Putin struck a pose during Trump's remarks, slouching in his chair with his legs wide and eyes low. He nodded along to some of the Trump's remarks before they were translated, showcasing his fluency in English. Trump leaned forward in his chair, his hands tempted in front of him and frequently glanced over at the Russian president. At one point, he shot Putin a wink. After Trump concluded his remarks, American reporters shouted several questions about whether he would bring up the election meddling during his discussions with Putin.
Trump did not respond;
With whom, the leaders gave a quick handshake and their private meeting in the opulent Gothic Hall was under way. Just the two of them, with a translator.
They continued the discussion with an expanded group of speakers and over lunch in a room called the Hall of Mirrors, which was once the emperor's throne room. Then came the joint news conference.
Out on the streets, the summit attracted a grab-bag of protesters, with abortion-rights activists wearing artificially bulging bellies and Trump masks, anti-fascist protesters bearing signs with expletive-laden insults,
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Associated Press writers Zeke Miller, Ken Thomas, and Darlene Superville in Washington Contributed by
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Lemire on Twitter at http://twitter.com/@JonLemire and Colvin at http://twitter.com/@colvinj and Isachenkov at http://twitter.com/@visachenkov
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