Trump speaks after talking to Putin about a "good start"

The two presidents at the meeting in the official residence of the Finnish president in Helsinki. (Photo: Reuters)

Key facts in brief

• Early in the afternoon, Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin met in Helsinki, the Finnish capital, for their first bilateral meeting. The private meeting lasted longer than expected followed by a working lunch followed by a press conference.
• The Russian side has always moderated expectations in recent days. On Monday, a Kremlin spokesman said he was hoping for "full-fledged negotiations", which would improve bad relations a bit.
• Trump, on the other hand, tweeted shortly before the start that the relationship had never been worse. Blame is the previous government and the witch hunt against him. He meant the investigations against him because of his dubious relations with Russia.
• Trump called the talks a "good start". They have clearly improved relations between the United States and Russia.
• million. Putin mentions Syria and disarmament as subjects of discussion. He also denies intervening in the US election campaign

18:05

President Vladimir Putin then uses another question to urge the United States to involve itself more in a peace settlement in the United States. East of Ukraine. "The United States could be more determined and get Ukrainian leaders to do their job," Putin said. Both spoke in their conversation about four visions of the Minsk peace plan, which has so far been misapplied.

18:01

The next question is what Russia and the United States do for security in the Middle East. can do. Trump points out that they have close ties with Israel and would like to do more with Russia for security in Syria. In addition, he could also imagine increased humanitarian efforts. Putin says the United States has proposed a new dialogue on nuclear arms control issues. Russia and the United States, as the world's largest nuclear powers, have a special responsibility

17:56

Putin is asked if President Trump met him about of the annexation of Crimea. He replied that Trump remained faithful to the well-known American position. The United States considered that the annexation was illegal. Asked whether Russia has incriminating evidence of Donald Trump's past, Putin stresses that it is out of the question.

17:50

President Putin is asked whether he will extradite the 12 Russians who were indicted last Friday in the United States for interference in the 2016 election campaign. Putin replies that he there is no evidence of Russian interference. President Trump then gives his full support to Putin and says that he believes the assurances of the Russian President in this matter.

17:47

A reporter asks questions about the assets Tweet, according to which the investigations of the special investigator Robert Mueller are responsible for the deterioration of US-Russian relations. Trump refuses to criticize Russia. He had defeated in the Hillary Clinton loose election campaign. There was no collusion of any kind with Russia. Putin fought a violent and strong Russian interference.

17:42

The two questions from the media then respond. The first question goes to Trump and revolves around the controversial Russian gas pipeline in Germany. Trump had severely criticized this pipeline. Trump reiterates that there is always a contrast between Washington and Moscow on this issue. Putin, on the other hand, tries to minimize the conflict. As the leading energy providers, the interests of the United States and Russia are not so different.

17:30

In his statement, Trump thanks the Finnish president, who organized this summit. He then congratulated Putin for the successful organization of the World Cup. He then states that the differences between the United States and Russia are known. These have been discussed in detail today. Unfortunately, relations between the two states are "as bad as ever". But that's changing now with this summit meeting. The dialogue with Moscow is important for him, he will continue, says Trump. This is not only good for the United States and Russia, but for the whole world.

17:24

After a working lunch, the two presidents address the media. First, Vladimir Putin speaks. He welcomes the "open and confident atmosphere" talks "very successful and useful". You are in a difficult phase of bilateral relations. He spoke to Trump about nuclear weapons and nuclear disarmament. Another subject was Syria. Together, the United States and Russia could help refugees return to their country of origin. He also spoke to Trump about the alleged interference of the Russian election campaign in the United States. Putin explains: "The Russian state has never intervened and has never intended to interfere in US domestic affairs."

15:38

The conversation between Putin and Trump is over after two hours. The two presidents have now started their working lunch, flanked by their advisers. Trump told reporters that the meeting was "a very good start for all". The correspondent of the American television channel CBS posted a photo of the meeting on Twitter

15:19

The Helsinki police draw a first positive provisional conclusion. Both in terms of traffic and events, there were no major problems. Finnish negotiators also say that the conversation between Putin and Trump lasted longer than the agreed 90 minutes.

14:57

According to information from the local press pool, the following people from the US side will attend the business luncheon following the four-faced conversation between Putin and Trump: Jon Huntsman, l & # 39; US Ambassador to Moscow, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, John Kelly, White House Chief of Staff, John Bolton, National Security Advisor, Fiona Hill, Trump Advisor, and Marina Gross, Translator . The Russian side includes Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov and Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov.

On Monday, July 16, US President Trump and Russian President Kremlin Putin will meet for the first time in Helsinki in a purely bilateral framework. – After a working lunch, the two presidents present themselves to the media. (Photo: Lehtikuva / Antti Aimo-Koivisto / Reuters)

M. Putin greets "the open and confident atmosphere" talks "very successful and useful". You are in a difficult phase of bilateral relations. (Photo: Grigory Dukor / Reuters)

Trump mentions in his statement that relations between the two states are "as bad as ever". But that's changing now with this summit meeting. (Photo: Leonhard Foeger / Reuters)

After the two-hour conversation (90 minutes agreed), the two presidents began their working lunch, supervised by their advisors. (Photo: Lehtikuva / Heikki Saukkomaa / Reuters)

There is a photo shoot before the interview. First of all, Putin seems reluctant to shake Trump's hand. (Photo: Kevin Lamarque / Reuters)

So it works with the handshake. – According to Trump's statements before the meeting, discussions will focus on, among other things, nuclear weapons, trade issues and relations with China (Photo: Kevin Lamarque / Reuters)

Body language speaks volumes about # 39; s atmosphere. Among other things, the Russian annexation of Crimea and the interference in American domestic politics weighed on the relationship. (Photo: Lehtikuva / Heikki Saukkomaa / Reuters)

Russia can more easily enter this unpredictable encounter than the United States. The Kremlin does not expect revolutionary decisions, but more than beautiful words. (Photo: Sputnik / Alexei Nikolsky / Kremlin)

The private interview takes place at the presidential palace (right) and is expected to last an hour and a half, after which there will be a press conference. – The security contingent is big. The Coast Guard is also waiting around the palace. (Image: Leonhard Foeger / Reuters)

Discussions began 50 minutes late. The reason was the late arrival of Putin. – The procession with the Russian representatives leaves the airport of Helsinki. (Photo: Mauri Ratilainen / EPA)

Donald Trump and his wife Melania are greeted by Finnish President Sauli Niinistö and his wife Jenni Haukio. (Photo: Lehtikuva / Martti Kainulainen / Reuters)

Before the meeting with Putin, Trump and his companions are invited by Finnish President Niinistö to his residence for breakfast. V.r.n.l .: US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo; Trump; The US ambassador to Finland, Robert Frank Pence, and security advisor John Bolton. (Image: Kevin Lamarque / Reuters)

A few curious people gathered at the edge of the highway to spot the presidential motorcade. (Photo: Lehtikuva / Seppo Samuli / Reuters)

On Monday morning, Air Force One lands at Helsinki-Vantaa airport. (Photo: Lehtikuva / Heikki Saukkomaa / Reuters)

This US security service officer set up his observation post in one of the limousines. (Photo: Lehtikuva / Heikki Saukkomaa / Reuters)

The US president's fleet of vehicles and his entourage is ready. (Photo: Lehtikuva / Antti Aimo-Koivisto / Reuters)

Trump Putin's Summit in Helsinki

14:43

German Foreign Minister reacted to Trump's controversial summit meeting and tweets on his inauguration Heiko Maas declares that Europe can no longer count on the White House. The consequence, which must be drawn from it, is closer cooperation.

13:32

President Vladimir Putin wants to talk for a long time with his US colleague on relations between Russia and the United States. They would be in regular contact by phone and would have met at international conferences, said Putin at the start of the much-awaited summit in Helsinki on Monday. "It is time to talk in detail about our bilateral relations and the pain points in the world.There are many," said Putin

13:25

Donald Trump emphasized the importance Russia's good relations with Russia during its first meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin "The world wants us to get along," Trump told Helsinki before meeting Putin in the presence of the Kremlin leader. on nuclear weapons, trade issues and relations with China.He pointed out that Russia and the United States held 90% of the world's nuclear arsenal.

13:21

President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin kicked off their long-awaited summit in Helsinki, where state leaders arrived at the official residence of Finnish President Sauli Niinistö – first from Putin and then from Trump. "About 50 minutes due to the late arrival of Putin, Trump and Putin began a private conversation, accompanied only by interpreters and transcribers.