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| Trump tells Putin at Helsinki summit: 'I really think the world wants to see us get along' - live updates | Trump tells Putin at Helsinki summit: 'I really think the world wants to see us get along' - live updates |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| The Putin Trump tete-a-tete has been going on for almost two hours, an Finnish official told AP. It had been expected to last for 90 minutes at most. Extra time and penalties? | |
| Per Finnish official: Trump-Putin one-on-one meeting still ongoing, approaching two hours | |
| There have been more anti-Trump and anti-Putin protests in Helsinki, with some dressed as Margaret Atwood-inspired handmaids demanding the release of members of Pussy Riot who were arrested on Sunday after invading the pitch at the World Cup final in Moscow. | |
| AP reports: | |
| Abortion-rights activists dressed up Monday in bulging bellies and Trump masks. Anti-fascist protesters carried signs with expletive-laden insults. Free traders, anti-war Ukrainians, environmentalists and rainbow flag-waving gay rights supporters all vied for attention from the world’s media. | |
| In a city proud to defend the right to protest, demonstrators were scattered about. Some stayed at barriers erected by police to try to register their complaints as the world leaders sped by in armor-plated vehicles for their summit at Finland’s presidential palace. | |
| Others marched by Helsinki landmarks, far away from the leaders’ gathering but in clear view of curious residents and tourists. | |
| At the city’s Senate Square, about 20 male “pregnant Trumps” and 20 women wearing pink gags railed against a Trump order reinstating what critics call a “global gag rule” that bans providing federal money to international family-planning groups that perform abortions or provide information about them. | |
| Another march that drew hundreds of people was a mishmash of messages some supporting German Chancellor Angela Merkel and some shouting “Fascists go home!” Some marchers questioned the legitimacy of Trump’s election victory since he lost the popular vote. Another sign read: “A woman’s place is in the Resistance.” | |
| “I don’t think the two people meeting today are going to care whether we are here or not, frankly,” said Helsinki protesters Tina Aspiala, 43. “It’s more of a global solidarity against a lot of things that are messed up, and I think that that’s why it’s worth coming out.” | |
| Some marchers had professionally designed banners while others scrawled slogans like “Not Welcome” onto homemade posters or warned of a looming apocalypse. | |
| On Sunday, 1,500 people marched through the city to promote human and sexual rights, democracy and environmental issues. | |
| Here’s what Putin wants to talk about, according to the Russian embassy in the US: “ways to normalise bilateral relations, as well as current international issues, primarily the situation in Ukraine, Syria and the Korean Peninsula, and the fight against terrorism.” | |
| None of these issues were mentioned by Trump in his opening remarks. | |
| Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump will discuss ways to normalise bilateral relations, as well as current international issues, primarily the situation in Ukraine, Syria and the Korean Peninsula, and the fight against terrorism. pic.twitter.com/msuboPmAdA | |
| . | |
| Michael McFaul, former US ambassador to Russia, was not impressed by Trump’s opening remarks to Putin. | |
| No previous President of the United States of America has ever spoken like this about relations with Russia. Ever. #BAF. Blame America First. https://t.co/R1VHt84NJy | |
| “Improved relations” with Russia or any other country should never be the goal of American foreign policy. Instead , concrete objectives need to be defined, and then strategies for pursuing them - engagement, containment, isolation — need to be implemented. | |
| Reluctant body language is on show in a black and white image of Trump and Putin tweeted by White House spokeswoman Sarah Sanders. | |
| .@POTUS @realDonaldTrump and President Putin sit down for one on one meeting in Helsinki, Finland. #HELSINKI2018 pic.twitter.com/ov0dSnafYB | |
| The BBC’s Stuart Hughes spotted a cuff-tickling handshake. | |
| It could be just the angle of the photo but President Trump appears from this @Reuters photo to be touching Vladimir Putin's shirt cuff. Strange? Checking the cotton thread count, perhaps? pic.twitter.com/4ddqh7CJNE | |
| #Helsinki: Vladimir Putin's meeting with Donald Trump https://t.co/59EAId0h2P pic.twitter.com/GonICs0bvU | |
| White House pool reporter Annie Karni, has more on what we’re waiting for. | White House pool reporter Annie Karni, has more on what we’re waiting for. |
| Since the one-on-one meeting between Trump and Putin started, the pool has been waiting in a non-air-conditioned, steamy conference room in the presidential palace on the first floor. On the menu for lunch is hot soup. | Since the one-on-one meeting between Trump and Putin started, the pool has been waiting in a non-air-conditioned, steamy conference room in the presidential palace on the first floor. On the menu for lunch is hot soup. |
| We have a view of lots of people walking right by the palace on the opposite side of this narrow street. | We have a view of lots of people walking right by the palace on the opposite side of this narrow street. |
| At 3:16 pm local time (1.16pm BST) we are gathering to go up to another photocall before the summit lunch - an extended bilateral meeting involving Trump and Putin and their aides | At 3:16 pm local time (1.16pm BST) we are gathering to go up to another photocall before the summit lunch - an extended bilateral meeting involving Trump and Putin and their aides |
| Attending the bilateral with Trump will be US ambassador to Russia Jon Huntsman; US secretary of state, Mike Pompeo; White House chief of staff, John Kelly; national security adviser, John Bolton; Russia expert and Trump adviser, Fiona Hill; and Marina Gross, an interpreter. | Attending the bilateral with Trump will be US ambassador to Russia Jon Huntsman; US secretary of state, Mike Pompeo; White House chief of staff, John Kelly; national security adviser, John Bolton; Russia expert and Trump adviser, Fiona Hill; and Marina Gross, an interpreter. |
| The White House has confirmed that Putin and Trump will hold another bilateral meeting with more aides present after their tete-a-tete. There will also be a joint press conference. | The White House has confirmed that Putin and Trump will hold another bilateral meeting with more aides present after their tete-a-tete. There will also be a joint press conference. |
| The joint press conference had been due to take place at around 4.50pm local time, (2.50pm BST). | The joint press conference had been due to take place at around 4.50pm local time, (2.50pm BST). |
| There has been no word on whether this timetable has slipped after the delay to the start of the summit. | There has been no word on whether this timetable has slipped after the delay to the start of the summit. |
| Happening Now: President Trump has a 1:1 bilateral meeting with President Putin. Later they will hold an expanded bilateral meeting and a joint press conference. | Happening Now: President Trump has a 1:1 bilateral meeting with President Putin. Later they will hold an expanded bilateral meeting and a joint press conference. |
| Donald Trump has dealt a fresh blow to hopes that he will confront the Russian president, Vladimir Putin, over election interference as they met on Monday, blaming his own country rather than Moscow for poor diplomatic relations. | Donald Trump has dealt a fresh blow to hopes that he will confront the Russian president, Vladimir Putin, over election interference as they met on Monday, blaming his own country rather than Moscow for poor diplomatic relations. |
| Apparently dismissing the cold war, when the superpowers stood on the brink of all-out nuclear war, the US president wrote on Twitter: “Our relationship with Russia has NEVER been worse thanks to many years of U.S. foolishness and stupidity and now, the Rigged Witch Hunt!” | Apparently dismissing the cold war, when the superpowers stood on the brink of all-out nuclear war, the US president wrote on Twitter: “Our relationship with Russia has NEVER been worse thanks to many years of U.S. foolishness and stupidity and now, the Rigged Witch Hunt!” |
| Trump made the startling claim ahead of his first, high-risk summit with Putin in Helsinki, Finland. | Trump made the startling claim ahead of his first, high-risk summit with Putin in Helsinki, Finland. |
| Not for the first time in his long career, Putin arrived later than expected, forcing his counterpart to wait. The Russian leader touched down just after 1pm local time, even though the official greeting with Trump at the Finnish presidential palace had been scheduled for 1.10pm. | Not for the first time in his long career, Putin arrived later than expected, forcing his counterpart to wait. The Russian leader touched down just after 1pm local time, even though the official greeting with Trump at the Finnish presidential palace had been scheduled for 1.10pm. |
| Trump and Putin came face to face at the presidential palace in Helsinki around 50 minutes later than scheduled and both made brief remarks before the media. | Trump and Putin came face to face at the presidential palace in Helsinki around 50 minutes later than scheduled and both made brief remarks before the media. |
| Sky’s Mark Stone spotted an interesting Trump wink amidst the awkward body language. | Sky’s Mark Stone spotted an interesting Trump wink amidst the awkward body language. |
| Very awkward body language... but @realDonaldTrump did offer Vladimir Putin a wink. @SkyNews 😉 pic.twitter.com/mQur4dzReI | Very awkward body language... but @realDonaldTrump did offer Vladimir Putin a wink. @SkyNews 😉 pic.twitter.com/mQur4dzReI |
| Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump are holding a one-to-one meeting in Helsinki after posing for a tense photocall. The two men shook hands for only three seconds. | Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump are holding a one-to-one meeting in Helsinki after posing for a tense photocall. The two men shook hands for only three seconds. |
| In opening remarks to Putin, Trump said he planned to discuss trade, military, missiles and China. He did not mention Russian meddling in the US election, Ukraine, Syria, Nato or Salisbury poisoning. But he congratulate Putin on a successful World Cup. | In opening remarks to Putin, Trump said he planned to discuss trade, military, missiles and China. He did not mention Russian meddling in the US election, Ukraine, Syria, Nato or Salisbury poisoning. But he congratulate Putin on a successful World Cup. |
| “Getting along with Russia is a good thing,” Trump said after admitting the US and Russia have “not been getting along very well for the last number of years”. He added: “I really think the world wants to see us get along. We are the two great nuclear powers.” | “Getting along with Russia is a good thing,” Trump said after admitting the US and Russia have “not been getting along very well for the last number of years”. He added: “I really think the world wants to see us get along. We are the two great nuclear powers.” |
| Both Putin and Trump delayed their arrival to the summit in what was widely interpreted as diplomatic gamesmanship. Putin’s plane arrived in Helsinki almost an hour after the summit was due to begin. Trump then delayed his arrival at the Presidential Palace where the talks are taking place. | Both Putin and Trump delayed their arrival to the summit in what was widely interpreted as diplomatic gamesmanship. Putin’s plane arrived in Helsinki almost an hour after the summit was due to begin. Trump then delayed his arrival at the Presidential Palace where the talks are taking place. |
| In a pre-summit tweet Trump said US-Russia relations have “never been worse”. He went on to blame the “rigged witch hunt” into Russian meddling in the US election. Russia’s foreign ministry said it agreed with that assessment. | In a pre-summit tweet Trump said US-Russia relations have “never been worse”. He went on to blame the “rigged witch hunt” into Russian meddling in the US election. Russia’s foreign ministry said it agreed with that assessment. |
| In another pre-summit tweet Trump hailed last week’s strained meeting with Nato as a success. He said: “We had a truly great Summit that was inaccurately covered by much of the media. NATO is now strong & rich!” | In another pre-summit tweet Trump hailed last week’s strained meeting with Nato as a success. He said: “We had a truly great Summit that was inaccurately covered by much of the media. NATO is now strong & rich!” |
| Trump and Putin are currently participating in their one-to-one meeting with only translators in the room, according to the White House pool reporter. | Trump and Putin are currently participating in their one-to-one meeting with only translators in the room, according to the White House pool reporter. |
| Here’s a transcript of what Trump said to Putin: | Here’s a transcript of what Trump said to Putin: |
| First of all Mr President I’d like to congratulate you on a really great World Cup. One of the best ever from what everybody tells me and also for your team, itself, doing so well. | First of all Mr President I’d like to congratulate you on a really great World Cup. One of the best ever from what everybody tells me and also for your team, itself, doing so well. |
| I watched quite a bit and in the United States we call it soccer and I watched quite a bit of it and I watched the entire final and the semi-finals and they were really spectacular games, but it was beautifully done so congratulations on that. | I watched quite a bit and in the United States we call it soccer and I watched quite a bit of it and I watched the entire final and the semi-finals and they were really spectacular games, but it was beautifully done so congratulations on that. |
| Most importantly we have a lot of good things to talk about ... we have discussions on everything from trade to military, to missiles, to nuclear, to China, we’ll be talking a little bit about China – our mutual friend President Xi. | Most importantly we have a lot of good things to talk about ... we have discussions on everything from trade to military, to missiles, to nuclear, to China, we’ll be talking a little bit about China – our mutual friend President Xi. |
| I think we have great opportunities together as two countries that frankly we have not been getting along very well for the last number of years. I’ve been here not too long but it is getting close to two years, but I think we will end up having an extraordinary relationship. I’ve been saying, and I’m sure you’ve heard, over the years ... that getting along with Russia is a good thing not a bad thing. | I think we have great opportunities together as two countries that frankly we have not been getting along very well for the last number of years. I’ve been here not too long but it is getting close to two years, but I think we will end up having an extraordinary relationship. I’ve been saying, and I’m sure you’ve heard, over the years ... that getting along with Russia is a good thing not a bad thing. |
| I really think the world wants to see us get along. We are the two great nuclear powers. We have 90% of the nuclear – and that’s not a good thing it’s a bad thing. I think we can hopefully do something about that because it is not a positive force it is a negative force so we’ll be talking about that among other things. | I really think the world wants to see us get along. We are the two great nuclear powers. We have 90% of the nuclear – and that’s not a good thing it’s a bad thing. I think we can hopefully do something about that because it is not a positive force it is a negative force so we’ll be talking about that among other things. |
| And with that the world awaits and I look forward to our personal discussion which I think begins now and then we are going to meet our whole team. You have quite a few representatives as I do. We all have a lot of questions and hopefully, we will come up with answers most importantly. It is great to be with you. | And with that the world awaits and I look forward to our personal discussion which I think begins now and then we are going to meet our whole team. You have quite a few representatives as I do. We all have a lot of questions and hopefully, we will come up with answers most importantly. It is great to be with you. |
| Thank you everybody. | Thank you everybody. |
| Note what Trump didn’t list in topics for discussion. There was no mention of Russian meddling in the US election, Syria, North Korea, novichoik, Nato, or Ukraine. | Note what Trump didn’t list in topics for discussion. There was no mention of Russian meddling in the US election, Syria, North Korea, novichoik, Nato, or Ukraine. |