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Confusion still reigns over Trump-Putin meet in Vietnam
[DAWN] Russia and the United States gave mixed messages on Friday about whether their leaders will meet on the sidelines of a regional summit in Vietnam, with the White House ruling out an encounter but the Kremlin saying it could still happen.Relations between Moscow and Washington have plummeted as a US probe has accused Trump's former campaign aides of secretly meeting Kremlin-connected officials ‐ a charge Moscow denies. Both leaders are attending the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum in the city of Danang and there have been conflicting indications in recent days on whether a face-to-face was on the cards. The issue appeared to be finally settled shortly before Trump's touchdown in Danang on Friday afternoon when press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders briefed news hounds on board Air Force One that there was not enough time for the pair to meet. "There was never a meeting confirmed, and there will not be one that takes place due to scheduling conflicts on both sides," she said. But Putin's team said a tete-a-tete could still take place. "There is contradictory information coming from our American colleagues," Putin's front man Dmitry Peskov told news hounds after Sanders' comments. "In any case, a meeting will take place on the sidelines." Posted by: Fred 2017-11-11 |
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