Trump and Putin agreed to cease fire in the southwest of Syria

During his first meeting in Hamburg, Putin denied Russian interference in the US presidential election.

US and Russian presidents Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin during their first meeting in Hamburg agreed to cease fire in the southwest of Syria, but also discussed allegations of Russian interference in the US presidential election. The first meeting of the two leaders lasted two hours and 15 minutes. US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said after the meeting that the presidents discussed the current and future relations of the two countries.

He said that Trump and Putin showed that they shared "clear positive chemistry" during their first direct meeting.

"As for the character of their meeting, which lasted two hours and 15 minutes, I can describe it as very constructive. The two leaders, I would say, quickly establish a connection," he added, according to AFP. He said that both Trump and Putin did not want to end the meeting, and that at one point counselors sent to wife of US President Melanie Trump to try to stop their conversation, but the meeting continued for another hour, the Guardian reported. Tilerson added that the two leaders discussed several topics, including the situation in Syria and supported the cease-fire in the southwest of that country that will come into force on July 9, Reuters reports.

They also discussed how to achieve de-escalation in other parts of Syria, which are not covered by the truce agreement.

Russia's mixing in US elections

Tilerson added that Russia has an interest in keeping Syria stable and to discuss the future leadership of that country, adding that the US does not see a future role for the Assad family. The way President Bashar Al-Assad leaves will remain to be identified, but it is certain that he will leave somewhere in the process of political transition, Tillerson said, Reuters reports. Trump and Putin also had a "sharp exchange" of opinions on allegations of Russian interference in the US election, AFP reports.

Russia has sought evidence of alleged interference in US elections, Tillerson said, AP reports. Tillerson said that Trump repeatedly asked Putin about alleged Russian interference in US elections, and that Putin denied Russia's involvement. On the other hand, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said that Trump accepted Putin's claim that Russia did not interfere in US elections.

The two leaders also discussed the situation in the east of Ukraine, North Korea, terrorism and other issues. Before the closed-door meeting, Putin and Trump briefly spoke to reporters. It is an honor to meet with you. I look forward to positive things for Russia and America, "Putin told Trump." I'm glad that I met you personally. We talked earlier on the phone, but such conversations are by no means sufficient, "he said.

"If you want to have a positive outcome in bilateral negotiations and solve most of the issues of international politics, then face-to-face meetings are really needed," Putin added.

The first encounter live

Previously, the Presidents of Trump and Putin, during their first live encounter, were shaking hands. Trump announced on Twitter that he was looking forward to meeting with the Russian president on Friday. "I look forward to all today's meetings with world leaders, including a meeting with Vladimir Putin. We have a lot to talk about," Trump wrote.

Gorbachev: Restore trust

The last president of the Soviet Union, Mikhail Gorbachev, called on the US and Russian presidents to restore confidence between the two countries. Gorbachev told the Russian agency RIA Novosti ahead of the G20 summit in Hamburg that it is good that this meeting is finally happening, but that "it's a shame what's coming to him just now," the AFP reports. "It's a waste of time to make up for it, they need to restore confidence," Gorbachev said. The former Soviet president compared this meeting with his first meeting with then-US President Ronald Reagan in Geneva in 1985 and said that some members of the Reagan administration tried to prevent him from coming up.

"He did not succumb to pressure and we came to this meeting with serious, constructive suggestions. Now leaders have to push some things, they have to put everything on the negotiating table and establish a mechanism for cooperation," Gorbachev said.

• 7 Jul, 2017
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