Trump is eager for a big meeting with Putin — but many advisers are wary

[Amica Nostra 4,803]

 

• Vivian Salama, Associated Press

• 5h 
• 3,272

President Donald Trump at a bill-signing event for the "Department of Veterans Affairs Accountability and Whistleblower Protection Act of 2017" in the East Room of the White House on Friday.AP Photo/Evan Vucci

WASHINGTON - President Donald Trump is eager to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin with full diplomatic bells and whistles when the two are in Germany for a multinational summit next month. But the idea is exposing deep divisions within the administration on the best way to approach Moscow in the midst of an ongoing investigation into Russian meddling in the US elections.

Many administration officials believe the US needs to maintain its distance from Russia at such a sensitive time - and interact only with great caution.

But Trump and some others within his administration have been pressing for a full bilateral meeting. He's calling for media access and all the typical protocol associated with such sessions, even as officials within the State Department and the National Security Council urge more restraint, according to a current and a former administration official.

Some advisers have recommended that the president instead do either a quick, informal "pull-aside" on the sidelines of the summit, or that the US and Russian delegations hold "strategic stability talks," which typically don't involve the presidents. The officials spoke anonymously to discuss private policy discussions.

[IAMX 3,055]

"Putin"

 

[Dashinka 26,012]

I thought Trump and Putin were BFFs, so why the hype?

[IAMX 3,055]

Just now, Bill & Katya said:

I thought Trump and Putin were BFFs, so why the hype?

[Insert conspiracy here]

[Amica Nostra 4,803]

18 minutes ago, Bill & Katya said:

I thought Trump and Putin were BFFs, so why the hype?

What hype?  

[CaliCat 3,957]

11 hours ago, Bill & Katya said:

I thought Trump and Putin were BFFs, so why the hype?

 

I am not sure about BFF. Putin is more like a sponsor, but that doesn't mean that Trump can be friends with him. When you look at it, very few heads of state are willing to play with Trump. He seems all alone in the playground.