Will Trump address election meddling with Putin? Should he?

There are plenty of other issues to cover, which again, makes it surprising that McMaster said that the Trump team doesn’t have much of an agenda. The two leaders should talk about extending New START, instability in the Balkans, the INF Treaty, and how to take risk-reduction steps. Sam Nunn, Igor Ivanov, Des Browne, and Wolfgang Ischinger in a recent letter to Trump suggested the two countries also create a NATO-Russia Military Crisis Management Group. Whatever the two leaders discuss, it is important that Trump seek input and advice from some of our closest Europeans allies, many of whom he will see in Hamburg before he sees Putin.

The first message Trump needs to send to Putin should be one of transatlantic resolve, and he can do that during his stop in Poland, which will proceed his meeting with Putin in Hamburg. In Warsaw, Trump can reassure skittish allies and showcase transatlantic unity by reaffirming his commitment to transatlantic values, NATO’s Article 5, and enhanced deterrence. In his speech there, Trump should stress that, while we sometimes have differences with our allies over issues like defense spending, we will not tolerate Russia’s attempts to undermine our democratic systems and divide Europe from the United States. Putin has no doubt enjoyed watching the transatlantic partners spend months wringing their hands over the future of the relationship as Trump’s views on Europe and Russia have remained vague. Putin needs to see and hear from Trump personally that the ties that bind the two sides of the Atlantic are as strong as ever.

Turtleneck wrote:It appears Trump did press him, and in a stunning move Putin said it did not happen.

Turtleneck wrote:The Associated Press‏Verified account
@AP
BREAKING: Russian foreign minister says Trump accepted Putin's assurances that Russia didn't meddle in the U.S. election.

I am glad that is settled.

Turtleneck wrote:AP Politics‏Verified account
@AP_Politics
BREAKING: Russia's foreign minister says Trump and Putin discussed cybersecurity and agreed to set up a joint group to address it.

Hi Mr. Fox, welcome to the henhouse.

Turtleneck wrote:The Associated Press‏Verified account
@AP
BREAKING: Russian foreign minister says Trump accepted Putin's assurances that Russia didn't meddle in the U.S. election.

I am glad that is settled.

Turtleneck wrote:Jim Sciutto‏Verified account @jimsciutto 29m29 minutes ago
WH counters that Trump did NOT accept Putin's denial of election meddling, @Acosta reports


Jim Sciutto‏Verified account
@jimsciutto
Sharp difference b/t Tillerson's & Lavrov's versions of how Trump raised election meddling requires clarification from WH. Will we get it?

DWags wrote:

Turtleneck wrote:AP Politics‏Verified account
@AP_Politics
BREAKING: Russia's foreign minister says Trump and Putin discussed cybersecurity and agreed to set up a joint group to address it.

Hi Mr. Fox, welcome to the henhouse.

Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin on Sunday said he thinks it is a "significant accomplishment" that President Trump talked with Russian President Vladimir Putin about forming a cybersecurity unit.

During an interview on ABC's "This Week," Mnuchin said he thinks this is a "very important step forward."

"What we want to make sure is that we coordinate with Russia, that we're focused on cybersecurity together, that we make sure that they never interfere in any Democratic elections or conduct any cybersecurity," he said.

"And this is like any other strategic alliance, whether we're doing military exercises with our allies or anything else. This is about having capabilities to make sure that we both fight cyber together, which I think is a very significant accomplishment for President Trump."