Donald Trump: It was a goo start (video)
Voice of America US President Donald Trump says that the meeting in Helsinki between him and his Russian counterpart was "a good start." Prior to the meeting with Putin, Trump said he hoped to establish "a remarkable relationship." Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin held their meeting in Helsinki behind closed doors, only in the presence of their translators. Negotiations lasted two hours, after which the presidents hold a joint press conference. Relations between Russia and the West have worsened in 2014 after the occupation of Crimea by Russia. Russia was also accused of trying to interfere in the presidential elections in the US in 2016. The USA and Russia disagree also in the Syrian conflict. A number of US politicians called Trump to recognize the summit as invalid. However, Trump associates the fact of the aggravation of Russian-American relations with the "many years of U.S. foolishness and stupidity and now, the Rigged Witch Hunt!" on his Twitter page. He was referring to an investigation conducted by a group of special investigators Robert Müller, whose purpose is to find out whether during the presidential election campaign in the United States secret meetings were held with Russians. To this poston Twitter, the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs responded on its Twitter page shortly: "We agree." As the analysts say, Trump's tweets can bother his White House advisors that Trump can give Putin a large platform during the negotiations. During the press conference, the US President, speaking of Russia's accusations of interference in the presidential elections in the United States, defended the view of Russia. He, ignoring the reports of the US intelligence agencies, said that Russia had no reason to interfere in the elections. In his turn, Putin reiterated that Russia has never interfered in the internal affairs of the United States. Asked whom he trusted more, to his own exploration agencies or to Putin, Trump replied that he trusted US intelligence very much, and added that Putin was very confident in the matter of refuting these accusations. Putin, in turn, said that the talks were held in a sincere and businesslike atmosphere, and called the meeting "successful". Numerous political figures criticize Trump after this meeting. Senior Republican Senator Lindsay Graham, who is a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, says that Trump has sent a message to the Kremlin about the "US weakness". To remind, during his week in Europe, Trump was combative with traditional U.S. allies — beginning at a NATO summit in Brussels, where he chastised European leaders for not spending more on defense. What Donald Trump and Valdimir Putin spoke in Helsinki during the tete-a-tete meeting, is not known. It should be reminded that National Security Adviser John Bolten said that the parties agreed to meet without a prearranged and coordinated agenda.
