Trump and Putin meet for first time

Allegations of election meddling loom large over historic meeting

HAMBURG, Germany - With broad grins and a warm handshake, US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin warmed up for their historic encounter on Friday under the shadow of US outrage about alleged Russian election meddling and nagging questions about potential Trump campaign collusion.

Ahead of a formal, sit-down meeting, Trump and Putin were seen exchanging pleasantries as a leaders' retreat got underway in Hamburg.

As officials gathered around a table, Trump outstretched his hand to Putin and then patted his elbow and both men smiled. A brief video clip shows Trump casually patting Putin on the back as they stand side by side.

Video of the exchange was posted to Facebook by the German Cabinet. It was the first known in-person interaction between the two men, who have spoken by telephone since Trump was inaugurated in January.

The two leaders planned later on Friday to hold longer talks on Syria and other issues on the sidelines of the G20 summit of industrialized and developing nations.

The White House said it has scheduled 35 minutes for the meeting.

"Much to discuss," Trump tweeted before the encounter.

When asked if Putin was looking forward to the talks and whether he had lots of questions for Trump, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said he did.

The heavily anticipated meeting is being closely scrutinized for signs of how friendly a rapport Trump and Putin will have. Trump's predecessor, Barack Obama, had notoriously strained ties to Moscow, and Trump has expressed an interest in a better US-Russia relationship.

But deep skepticism about Russia in the US and ongoing investigations into whether Trump's campaign coordinated with Moscow during last year's election have made a detente politically risky for Trump.

As leaders gathered at a summit hall in Hamburg for a group photo, Trump and Putin stood on opposite sides of the tableau. Putin chatted casually with German Chancellor Angela Merkel before taking his spot for the photo next to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

After the cameras snapped away, Merkel, in the center, dismissed the group with a firm nod of the head.

In the lead-up to the meeting, Trump, during a speech in Warsaw on Thursday, urged Russia to "cease its destabilizing activities in Ukraine and elsewhere and its support for hostile regimes including Syria and Iran, and to instead join the community of responsible nations in our fight against common enemies and in defense of civilization itself".

But much of the focus both in Washington and Moscow will be on whether Trump broaches the issue of Russia's meddling in the election.

During a news conference in Poland on Thursday, Trump again refused to accept the conclusion by multiple US intelligence agencies that Russia had interfered to try to help him win in November.

He said it could have been Russia, but that other countries could have meddled, too.

"Nobody really knows for sure," Trump said.

US lawmakers and investigators continue to look into Russia's interference, along with possible collusion between Trump campaign associates and Russian officials. That puts Trump under intense scrutiny over how he handles the sit-down with Putin.

The list of their meeting would include issues range from Syria, Iran to Ukraine, and the Korean Peninsula.

Ap - Reuters

(China Daily 07/08/2017 page8)