Vladimir Putin ready to meet with Donald Trump in Finland; slams use of 'Russian card' in US politics
Posted
Russian President Vladimir Putin has said he is ready to meet with US President Donald Trump at an upcoming Arctic summit, while continuing to reject allegations that Russia meddled in the US presidential election.
Key points:
- Putin says cutting relations could "bring the Cuban Missile Crisis days" back
- Finland's president affirms he would be honoured to host the two leaders
- Putin again dismisses accusations of Russian hacking in the 2016 US election
Speaking at an Arctic forum in Arkhangelsk, Mr Putin said he would be glad to meet with Mr Trump at a summit bringing together Arctic nations' leaders.
Finnish President Sauli Niinisto, whose country is set to take the rotating leadership in the Arctic Council in May, responded that he would be honoured to host such a meeting.
It is not the first time Mr Putin has floated the idea of a meeting with Mr Trump.
Russia had hoped for a thaw in relations with the United States after Mr Trump's election, but that has been dashed by the congressional investigation of possible links between Mr Trump's campaign and Russia.
Mr Putin again dismissed on Thursday what he called "endless and groundless" accusations of Russian meddling in the US election, describing them as part of the US domestic political struggle.
He sharply criticised what he described as the use of the "Russian card" in US domestic politics, saying it contradicts American interests.
"Do we want to completely cut relations?" he said.
"Do we want to bring the situation to what it was during the Cuban Missile Crisis of the 1960s?"
Earlier this year, Mr Putin thanked Slovenia for its offer to host a proposed meeting with Mr Trump, but noted that it would depend on Washington.
Reuters/AP
Topics: donald-trump, world-politics, russian-federation, united-states
