President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin are meeting today at the Presidential Palace in Helsinki, Finland.
Earlier today, the two world leaders met ahead of their historic summit and bilateral meeting.
Here is a video clip of the two meeting and shaking hands, and President Trump introducing First Lady Melania Trump to Putin:
Pres. Trump, first lady Melania Trump and Russian Pres. Vladimir Putin meet for photo spray ahead of summit in Helsinki, Finland. https://t.co/15ku0OZIFX pic.twitter.com/1ZsYYsVbJl
— ABC News (@ABC) July 16, 2018
Trump and Putin were scheduled to meet privately, without any note takers, for 90 minutes, but their meeting lasted for more than two hours.
The two are now holding a bilateral meeting, and then they are expected to hold joint press conference.
Happening Now: President Trump has a 1:1 bilateral meeting with President Putin. Later they will hold an expanded bilateral meeting and a joint press conference.
— The White House (@WhiteHouse) July 16, 2018
White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders posted a photo to Twitter of the two leaders meeting today:
.@POTUS @realDonaldTrump and President Putin sit down for one on one meeting in Helsinki, Finland. #HELSINKI2018 pic.twitter.com/ov0dSnafYB
— Sarah Sanders (@PressSec) July 16, 2018
The White House also posted video of their meeting before the summit began:
While this is not the first time Trump and Putin have met, their meeting is historic, as it comes during a time of turmoil between the U.S. and Russia.
Russia is accused of hacking and meddling in the 2016 Presidential election.
The topic of Russia’s annexation of the Crimean peninsula in 2014 is also on peoples’ minds, as well as the country’s alleged use of a nerve agent in the U.K. and its support of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.
