Donald Trump Holds First Official Meeting With Putin

[caption id="attachment_21925" align="alignnone" width="850"]Donald Trump meets Vladimir Putin[/caption]

US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin have held their first official meeting in the German city of Hamburg.

The two leaders met on the sidelines of the G20 Summit in what was widely described as the most highly anticipated meeting.

The meeting, currently holding behind closed doors, will have just a few persons in their midst, Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and translators for both sides.

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There are planned protests happening in Hamburg around the summit. More than 150 police officers have been injured so far, according to authorities.

Speaking before the closed door meeting, Trump told reporters it is an “honor” to meet the Russian leader.

The U.S President said he and Putin have been discussing “various things.”

“I think it’s going very well,” he said, adding that “positive things” are happening.

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In brief remarks ahead of the bilateral meeting, Putin said he was “delighted” to meet Trump and that “we definitely need personal meetings.”

“We have spoken on the phone with you several times on very important bilateral and international issues. But phone conversation are never enough,” Putin said, speaking in Russian.

“If we want to resolve bilateral and acute international issues, we definitely need personal meetings. I’m delighted to be able to meet you in person Mr. President and I hope — as you have said — that our meeting will yield positive results,” he said.

The war in Syria, North Korea’s military movements and Moscow’s alleged influence in the US election campaign could be on the agenda.

Mr Trump has said he wants to find ways to work with Mr Putin, a goal made more difficult by sharp differences over Russia’s actions in Syria and Ukraine, and allegations Moscow meddled in the 2016 US presidential election.

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Both leaders enjoyed a passing handshake at the summit ahead of the talks. Vision of the handshake was released by the German Government and showed Mr Trump smiling and putting his hand on Mr Putin’s back when posing for a photo.Both leaders enjoyed a passing handshake at the summit ahead of the talks. Vision of the handshake was released by the German Government and showed Mr Trump smiling and putting his hand on Mr Putin’s back when posing for a photo.

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