Politics – What will Trump and Putin talk about in Helsinki | new

Their talks take place in a highly symbolic place: in Helsinki, where representatives of 35 countries of the Western and Eastern bloc signed the Final Act of the Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe (CSCE) in 1975. The CSCE formed a bridge between the West and the East, thus contributing to détente between the belligerent blocs of the Cold War. It was the precursor of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE).

Trump's imbalance and Putin's indecipherable political style make it almost impossible to predict the outcome of the meeting in the Finnish capital. Here is a list of topics that presidents and their advisers probably prepared for discussion:

Arms Race

Trump and Putin expressed themselves in military rhetoric about their respective arsenal of nuclear weapons, raising concern on a new nuclear arms race, such an arms race would be dangerous and costly for both parties. If Trump and Putin find an agreement that supports the issue in any way, it would be a victory for both countries. Progress in the fight for the extension of the new 2010 launch disarmament treaty, which expires in 2021, would be a substantial success.

Sanctions

Putin seeks to ease American sanctions. Under the law, the 2017 Congress ensured that Trump could only relax most of the punitive measures with the approval of parliamentarians. However, he may announce some relief without congressional approval. Trump could also send a signal that the US government is not planning to expand the list of sanctioned Russian businesses and individuals. This would facilitate international investment in Russia, which the Moscow government desperately needs.

Syria

Israel, an ally of the United States, fears that Iranian and Iranian-backed fighters will remain behind the Israeli border after the end of the Syrian civil war. Trump could ask Putin to use his influence to reduce the Iranian presence in Syria. For Putin, this would be dangerous: risk a break with his Iranian ally – and force Russia to assume the lion's share of the latest fighting in Syria.

Diplomacy

US and Russian diplomatic missions in the other country are haggard after two rounds of diplomatic expulsions over the past two years. First, these are the allegations of Russia's participation in the US presidential election in 2016, and later the poisoning of former Russian agent Sergej Skripal in the United Kingdom. In Helsinki, Trump and Putin could agree to reoccupy embassies

Backyard of Russia

Since the annexation of Crimea by Russia in 2014, NATO has greatly increased the number of maneuvers in Europe from the East, paving the way for rabid Moscow. If Trump agreed to reduce the number of military exercises, it would be a great success for Putin. NATO circles said they were ready for a disaster scenario where Trump could announce a freeze on American maneuvers or a withdrawal from the Baltic states as a gesture towards Putin.

Ukraine

The United States has Ukraine supported in the conflict with Russia with military aid of several hundred million dollars. It would be a triumph for Putin to convince Trump to stop military aid. In return, Putin could make concessions regarding the deployment of a blue helmet in eastern Ukraine controlled by pro-Russian separatists. With regard to the annexed Crimean peninsula, however, the agreement of Putin is excluded.

(Reuters)