Syria will dominate the summit between Putin and Trump, Russian aides have said [PPIO]
US President Donald Trump said that a relationship with Russia would benefit the entire world, but warned that he had low expectations going into his summit meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin next week.
During his joint press conference with UK Prime Minister Theresa May at Buckinghamshire, Trump was repeatedly pressed to comment how he would meet with Putin while Russia “continued to occupy Crimea”.
Trump said he would discuss the issue with Putin in Helsinki on June 16, but reminded the pool of reporters that he had been dealt a bad hand on Crimea by the Obama administration.
He repeatedly blamed Barack Obama for “horribly” handling the situation in Crimea.
“If I had been President, Crimea wouldn’t have happened,” Trump said.
However, Trump confirmed that Russia sanctions would not be removed and took another swipe at Germany for wanting a gas pipeline to Russia.
He said that was counterproductive to efforts to pressure Russia.
When asked what he would say to Putin about alleged US election meddling, Trump said he would absolutely and firmly raise the issue.
On Friday, the US Justice Department issued grand jury indictments for 12 Russians on charges of hacking the emails of senior Democrats.
The men appear to be Russian intelligence officers. Democrats in Washington on Friday called on Trump to cancel his meeting with Putin.
Trump, who has cast doubts about the entire issue, did not immediately respond to the grand jury indictments.
But Trump did appear to indicate he may cancel NATO exercises if Putin asks, but provides no further details.
According to Putin’s aide Yuri Ushakov, the two presidents will have the Syrian crisis at the top of the summit’s agenda. They will also talk about Russia alleged involvement in Ukraine, as well as security in Asia-Pacific (North Korea) and Europe.
But Ushakov told reporters on Friday that the US side in the summit may raise the issue of alleged election meddling.
He maintained, however, that Russia has no interest meddling in US elections and never will.
In the meantime, Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters on Friday that they should not expect a joint communique when both presidents meet.
But Putin and Trump will hold a joint press conference, he added.
The BRICS Post with inputs from Agencies
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