Trump congratulates Putin on election, leaders look to meet soon

By Andrew Osborn and Steve Holland

 

U.S. President Donald Trump and Russia's President Vladimir Putin talk during the family photo session at the APEC Summit in Danang, Vietnam November 11, 2017. REUTERS/Jorge Silva/Files

 

MOSCOW/WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Donald Trump on Tuesday congratulated Russian President VladimirPutin on his re-election and said they would likely meet soon as relations between the two countries grow more strained over allegations of Russian meddling in the U.S. electoral system.

 

Trump's overture to Putin was criticized by top senators in his own Republican party, who called Sunday's election a sham. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said there was a "lack of credibility in tallying the result."

 

When asked if Russia's election was free and fair, White House spokeswoman Sarah Sanders responded: "We don't get to dictate how other countries operate."

 

Putin won a landslide victory to extend his rule over the world's largest country for six more years at a time when his ties with the West are on a hostile trajectory.

 

"I congratulated him on the victory, the electoral victory," Trump told reporters at the White House while meeting Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.

 

"The call had to do also with the fact that we will probably get together in the not too distant future so we can discuss arms, we can discuss the arms race."

 

The White House later said there were no specific plans for a meeting.

 

Speaking of the arms race, Trump said: "We will never allow anybody to have anything even close to what we have."

 

Last week, the Trump administration hardened its stance on Russia by accusing Moscow of hacking into America's energy grid and approving the first sanctions on Russian entities and citizens for meddling in the 2016 U.S. election. Russia denies interference in the election.

 

The United States also joined Britain, France and Germany in demanding that Russia explain a military-grade nerve toxin attack in England on a former Russian double agent.

 

Trump, who vowed to improve relations with Russia on taking office 14 months ago, is under pressure from Congress to take a tougher stance on Putin, his inner circle and scores of Russian oligarchs. Trump has not been highly critical of Russia in public, while maintaining there was no collusion between his presidential campaign and Russians.

 

Republican U.S. Senator John McCain chastised Trump for the congratulatory call.

 

"An American president does not lead the Free World by congratulating dictators on winning sham elections," McCain said in a statement.

 

The Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) said there had been no real choice in Russia's presidential election and complained it had been marked by unfair pressure on critical voices.

 

The U.S. State Department endorsed the OSCE's preliminary findings, said spokeswoman Heather Nauert, and called Trump's call to Putin "protocol."

 

The Kremlin said Tuesday's conversation had been broadly constructive and focused on overcoming problems in relations.

 

"The leaders spoke in favour of developing practical cooperation in different spheres, including on questions of how to ensure strategic stability and fight international terrorism," the Kremlin said in a statement.

 

Moscow and Washington are also at odds over crises in Ukraine and Syria, which Trump said would be discussed in a meeting along with the denuclearization of North Korea.

 

Putin and Trump agreed on the need to avoid an arms race and discussed "a possible high-level meeting," the Kremlin said.

 

Putin has struck a softer tone towards the West since Sunday, saying he has no desire for an arms race and would do everything he could to resolve differences with other countries.

 

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told Russian news agencies separately that Putin and Trump had not discussed the poisoning of former Russian double agent Sergei Skripal and his daughter. London has blamed Moscow for the attack, a charge Russia denies.

 

(Reporting by Andrew Osborn in Moscow and Steve Holland in Washington; Additional reporting by James Oliphant, Doina Chiacu, David Alexander, Lesley Wroughton and Richard Cowan in Washington and Andrey Ostroukh in Moscow; Writing by Mary Milliken; Editing by Gareth Jones, Howard Goller, Grant McCool)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2018-03-21

Other President's have congratulated Putin in the past and haven't been demonized for it. 

Obama congratulates Putin for election “win” March 9, 2012
"The Russian people and international observers may not see last Sunday’s presidential election in Russia as legitimate, but President Barack Obama has now officially endorsed the return of Russian past and future President Vladimir Putin. "President Obama called Russian President-elect and Prime Minister Putin to congratulate him on his recent victory in the Russian Presidential.The White House statement made no mention of the problems with the election".
http://foreignpolicy.com/2012/03/09/obama-congratulates-putin-for-election-win/

https://uk.reuters.com/article/usa-russia-obama/update-1-obama-calls-putin-after-election-win-idUKL2E8E9HYN20120310

Edited March 21, 20188 yr by riclag

Trump congratulates Putin on his reelection same as Obama congratulated him in the past. 

2 hours ago, webfact said:

Republican U.S. Senator John McCain chastised Trump for the congratulatory call.

 

"An American president does not lead the Free World by congratulating dictators on winning sham elections," McCain said in a statement.

mr mccain, i would suggest that there are very few countries that view america as the leader of the free world.  that concept went out the window a long time ago.  a leader typically requires followers and as i look around today, i don't see many followers.

 

56 minutes ago, Boon Mee said:

Trump congratulates Putin on his reelection same as Obama congratulated him in the past. 

 

It's always refreshing to hear Trump supporters praising President Obama.

 

 

In other older news...

 

After Russia’s Dec. 2011 parlaimentary elections, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton called them "neither free nor fair." When Russian protesters took to the streets to protest those elections and Putin’s return to the presidency, Putin publicly accused Clinton of inciting the protests.

 

 

https://sputniknews.com/world/20111206169399214/

 

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2011/dec/08/vladimir-putin-hillary-clinton-russia

Whether knowingly or unknowingly, Trump is a Russian asset. He is being manipulated by  Putin. He is cowering and not defending democracy or America/Americans. He is a disgrace. 

Meanwhile, America seems to be improving. Big Time. As far as taxes, unemployment,  the millitary. Cost of living go. Trumps return to the Big Stick Policy is working.  

4 hours ago, webfact said:

Trump congratulates Putin on election, leaders look to meet soon

Congratulating adversaries/opponents demonstrates strength and sound judgment.  Most (if not all) leaders in any capacity know  the adage "Keep your friends close and your enemies closer".

2 hours ago, Boon Mee said:

Trump congratulates Putin on his reelection same as Obama congratulated him in the past. 

You guys always bring up Obama, yada yada yada.  Fact is, there wasn't Russian meddling in our elections back then, Russians weren't in Syria, there wasn't poisoned Russians in the UK, Russians weren't trying to hack into our power grids, etc.  Apples and oranges...as usual. 

7 minutes ago, Berkshire said:

You guys always bring up Obama, yada yada yada.  Fact is, there wasn't Russian meddling in our elections back then, Russians weren't in Syria, there wasn't poisoned Russians in the UK, Russians weren't trying to hack into our power grids, etc.  Apples and oranges...as usual. 

 Fact is,"Moscow, it turns out, has been trying to meddle in our elections for decades. And the US is not the only target — the Kremlin has been interfering with elections across Europe as well".

https://www.vox.com/world/2018/2/27/17046300/russia-election-meddling-hack-treverton-interview

Edited March 21, 20188 yr by riclag

3 minutes ago, riclag said:

"Moscow, it turns out, has been trying to meddle in our elections for decades. And the US is not the only target — the Kremlin has been interfering with elections across Europe as well".

https://www.vox.com/world/2018/2/27/17046300/russia-election-meddling-hack-treverton-interview

You don't get it.  Yes we know about it now, we didn't know about it back then.

5 minutes ago, Berkshire said:

You don't get it.  Yes we know about it now, we didn't know about it back then.

I don't think so

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Foreign_electoral_intervention

There are known knowns. These are things we know that we know. There are known unknowns. That is to say, there are things that we know we don't know. But there are also unknown unknowns. There are things we don't know we don't know - Donald Rumsfeld.

And ONCE AGAIN Trump calls Putin directly, and does not release any information about the phone call to the American media. He called him after his own national security advisors wrote him a letter in all caps telling him, "DO NOT CONGRATULATE PUTIN ON ELECTION VICTORY"... and of course he did. But most importantly, what has been a trend here, the American press found out about the meeting only when they saw it in Russian media. They then asked about it and Trump's white house confirmed the call. And this call happens days after the attack on British soil?

 

Does anyone not find this highly suspicious? 

1 minute ago, jcsmith said:

And ONCE AGAIN Trump calls Putin directly, and does not release any information about the phone call to the American media. He called him after his own national security advisors wrote him a letter in all caps telling him, "DO NOT CONGRATULATE PUTIN ON ELECTION VICTORY"... and of course he did. But most importantly, what has been a trend here, the American press found out about the meeting only when they saw it in Russian media. They then asked about it and Trump's white house confirmed the call. And this call happens days after the attack on British soil?

 

Does anyone not find this highly suspicious? 

sources

1 minute ago, riclag said:

sources

This was on most of the news (both print and television) all evening. Fox won't run it, but it's elsewhere. 

 

https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/trumps-national-security-advisers-warned-him-not-to-congratulate-putin-he-did-it-anyway/2018/03/20/22738ebc-2c68-11e8-8ad6-fbc50284fce8_story.html
https://edition.cnn.com/2018/03/20/politics/trump-putin-advisers-do-not-congratulate/index.html
https://nypost.com/2018/03/20/trump-ignored-all-caps-warning-congratulated-putin-anyway/

https://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow/watch/against-advice-trump-congratulates-putin-on-sham-election-win-wapo-1190933059810?playlist=associated&v=a&cid=sm_npd_ms_tw_ma

 

The latter one is a video of Rachel Maddow's segment on it.

6 minutes ago, jcsmith said:

Does anyone not find this highly suspicious? 

You suggest the Russian media is up-to-date with their reporting of news which is not suspicious imho.

6 minutes ago, SouthernDelight said:

You suggest the Russian media is up-to-date with their reporting of news which is not suspicious imho.

What is suspicious is that they are not informing the American media of the meetings or calls. They put out information on other meetings, but they omit the Russian ones. The Russian media gets the full information, and the American media then reads about it in Russian media and has to ask the white house. This has happened numerous times since he took office. And that in itself is suspicious. 

 

Just as importantly, his own national security advisors wrote him a letter that warned in caps not to congratulate Putin. He read it... and ignored it and congratulated him. That is also very suspicious when you consider the context.

Edited March 21, 20188 yr by jcsmith

10 minutes ago, jcsmith said:

This was on most of the news (both print and television) all evening. Fox won't run it, but it's elsewhere. 

 

https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/trumps-national-security-advisers-warned-him-not-to-congratulate-putin-he-did-it-anyway/2018/03/20/22738ebc-2c68-11e8-8ad6-fbc50284fce8_story.html
https://edition.cnn.com/2018/03/20/politics/trump-putin-advisers-do-not-congratulate/index.html
https://nypost.com/2018/03/20/trump-ignored-all-caps-warning-congratulated-putin-anyway/

https://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow/watch/against-advice-trump-congratulates-putin-on-sham-election-win-wapo-1190933059810?playlist=associated&v=a&cid=sm_npd_ms_tw_ma

 

The latter one is a video of Rachel Maddow's segment on it.

 This WP  article doesn't mention anything that supports Don't Congratulate, What your sources are saying is based on Russian sources 

https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/trump-congratulates-putin-on-his-reelection-kremlin-says/2018/03/20/379effd0-2c57-11e8-8dc9-3b51e028b845_story.html?utm_term=.0d4307ed1230

9 minutes ago, jcsmith said:

... and ignored it and congratulated him.

It is in his right to do so, after all, he is the elected leader.

Back in the day Russia was a communist state and a very big adversary,I think China and NK and( Iran-threat). took over  that threat 

Edited March 21, 20188 yr by riclag

6 minutes ago, riclag said:

 This WP  article doesn't mention anything that supports Don't Congratulate, What your sources are saying is based on Russian sources 

https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/trump-congratulates-putin-on-his-reelection-kremlin-says/2018/03/20/379effd0-2c57-11e8-8dc9-3b51e028b845_story.html?utm_term=.0d4307ed1230

I don't have a Washington Post subscription to view the article just grabbed it based on the headline. If that is the case though it clearly does say it in the others and the Washington Post one has that in the url so I would imagine it would talk about it in there too. In the Rachel Maddow segment she covers it.  

Standard protocol... next!

56 minutes ago, Berkshire said:

You don't get it.  Yes we know about it now, we didn't know about it back then.

 

Yea I bet the USA would never do anything like that right?  meddle in other countries? heaven forbid!  all of this 'noise' is just boring old politics day in and day out. In many people's view Putin is a great leader who has dragged Russia out of the quagmire into a relevant state. Is he an angel?  of course not was Bush?  Obama? and, of course, Trump?  none are unblemished but the call to boycott the Russia elections was ignored and 77% voted for Putin. Who's to say their system is wrong but USA's is right?

 
Yea I bet the USA would never do anything like that right?  meddle in other countries? heaven forbid!  all of this 'noise' is just boring old politics day in and day out. In many people's view Putin is a great leader who has dragged Russia out of the quagmire into a relevant state. Is he an angel?  of course not was Bush?  Obama? and, of course, Trump?  none are unblemished but the call to boycott the Russia elections was ignored and 77% voted for Putin. Who's to say their system is wrong but USA's is right?

I'll say sham elections are wrong.

Next ...

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It is in his right to do so, after all, he is the elected leader.

It's our right to criticize him.

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1 minute ago, Jingthing said:

I'll say sham elections are wrong.

Next ...

Sent from my [device_name] using http://Thailand Forum - Thaivisa mobile app
 

 

Sham?  anyway I sense no point arguing with you but a HUGE majority voted and Russians I know personally (yes, in Russia) support Putin.  Many Russians look at USA elections as more of a 'Sham' as the winner of the vote is not POTUS. 

1 hour ago, Berkshire said:

You guys always bring up Obama, yada yada yada.  Fact is, there wasn't Russian meddling in our elections back then, Russians weren't in Syria, there wasn't poisoned Russians in the UK, Russians weren't trying to hack into our power grids, etc.  Apples and oranges...as usual. 

Mind, there were a lot more people alive in various countries back then! killed ' being liberated! thanks. Better to have the Russians as the evil doers rather than face the truth?

 
Sham?  anyway I sense no point arguing with you but a HUGE majority voted and Russians I know personally (yes, in Russia) support Putin.  Many Russians look at USA elections as more of a 'Sham' as the winner of the vote is not POTUS. 

Yes a sham. Any meaningful opposition was disqualified or murdered by the Putin regime. Russians know it was a sham too. Don't bother arguing. I deal in reality not Putin propaganda.

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My sense is that there are two major points:

 

1.) Trump's own national security team specifically recommended to him that he not congratulate Putin specifically. Evidently, according to WH leakers, this recommendation was included in both all CAPS in his briefing note-card, and in cartoon format (Trump dressed as a cheerleader with a red circle/line through).

 

2.) Russia is much more adversarial these days vs. when the last election/congrats (from Obama).

 

So things are different, and criticism, of Trump or Putin, certainly shouldn't be stifled, unless Vlad sends round a special "gift".