Updated
Photo:
Mr Trump and Mr Putin held a press conference after their meeting at the Presidential Palace in Helsinki. (AP: Alexander Zemlianichenko)
Russian President Vladimir Putin has said he did want
Donald Trump to win the 2016 US presidential election but took no
action during the campaign to make it happen, adding he favoured the
celebrity businessman because of his policies.
Key points:
- Donald Trump says of Vladimir Putin, "I think we will end up having an extraordinary relationship"
- US senators called Mr Trump's approach "shameful" and "weak"
- Both presidents again denied any Russian involvement in the US elections
Mr Trump and Mr Putin "spent a great deal of time" discussing allegations of Russian election meddling as they met for several hours at a summit in Helsinki, the US President said.
But Mr 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.
During their joint news conference, Mr Putin insisted the Russian state had never interfered and would never interfere in the American electoral process, dismissing the claims as "nonsense".
Senator Lindsey Graham strongly criticised Mr Trump for failing to deliver a strong warning to Russia.
"Missed opportunity by President Trump to firmly hold Russia accountable for 2016 meddling and deliver a strong warning regarding future elections," he said.
"This answer by President Trump will be seen by Russia as a sign of weakness and create far more problems than it solves."
I never thought I would see the day when our American President would stand on the stage with the Russian President and place blame on the United States for Russian aggression. This is shameful.
Mr Trump, standing alongside Mr Putin in front of reporters, said he saw no reason to believe Russia had hacked the 2016 US election to help him win and that Mr Putin "was extremely strong and powerful in his denial today".
Senate Democratic Leader Charles Schumer said Mr Trump's approach in Helsinki was unprecedented for a leader of the United States.
"For the President of the United States to side with President Putin against American law enforcement, American defence officials, and American intelligence agencies is thoughtless, dangerous, and weak," Mr Schumer said.
Another Republican senator, Jeff Flake, called Mr Trump's words "shameful" on Twitter.
As I said today and many times before, “I have GREAT confidence in MY intelligence people.” However, I also recognize that in order to build a brighter future, we cannot exclusively focus on the past – as the world’s two largest nuclear powers, we must get along! #HELSINKI2018
US Senate Foreign Relations Committee Bob Corker said in an interview with CNN that the President made the US look like a "pushover".
"When he had the opportunity to defend our intelligence agencies who work for him, I was very disappointed and saddened with the equivalency that he gave between them and what Putin was saying," Mr Corker said.
'We ran a brilliant campaign and that's why I'm President'
Photo: US President Donald Trump, left, and Russian President Vladimir Putin embrace following their media conference. (AP: Pablo Martinez Monsivais)
Mr Trump, in opening remarks, said that US-Russia relations had been at their lowest point until the two sat down face-to-face in a highly-anticipated summit.
"That changed as of about four hours ago," Mr Trump said.
"I think we will end up having an extraordinary relationship … I really think the world wants to see us get along."Mr Trump also continued to deny that there had been any other collusion between his campaign and Russians, declaring: "We ran a brilliant campaign and that's why I'm President."
The summit began just hours after Mr Trump blamed the United States — and not Russian election meddling 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," Mr Trump tweeted yesterday, blaming "many years of US foolishness and stupidity and now, the Rigged Witch Hunt!"
The Russian foreign ministry responded by liking Mr Trump's tweet and then replying: "We agree."
'The time has come to have a thorough discussion'
The summit, which is being closely watched around the world, was not the first time Mr Trump and Mr Putin have held talks.
They met on the sidelines of world leader meetings in Germany and Vietnam last year.
Mr Putin said he and Mr Trump have maintained regular contact through phone calls and meetings at international events, but "the time has come to have a thorough discussion on various international problems and sensitive issues".
He added, "there are quite a few of them for us to pay attention to".
But Monday's session was condemned in advance by members of Congress from both parties after the US indictment last week of the 12 Russian military intelligence officers.
Photo:
Mr Browder said, "The only approach to Vladimir Putin is severe containment." (AP: Pablo Martinez Monsivais)
The pair opened their long-awaited summit with a wink and slouch, respectively, then talked one-on-one behind closed doors before the American leader declared their meeting was off to a "very, very good start for everybody".
Their opening session had been scheduled to run 90 minutes.
The Russians said it lasted two hours and 10 minutes.
After the private meeting, discussions continued with an expanded group of aides 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, and free traders, anti-war Ukrainians and gay rights supporters making their voices heard.
Reuters/AP
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