Trump meets Russia foreign minister amid Comey controversy

[webfact]

Trump meets Russia foreign minister amid Comey controversy

By Arshad Mohammed and Steve Holland

REUTERS

 

FILE PHOTO: A combination of file photos showing Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov attending a news conference in Moscow, Russia, November 18, 2015, and U.S. President Donald Trump posing for a photo in New York City, U.S., May 17, 2016. REUTERS/Maxim Zmeyev/Lucas Jackson/File Photos

 

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Russia's top diplomat met President Donald Trump on Wednesday and praised the U.S. administration as problem solvers, just as the White House drew criticism over the firing of the FBI director who was leading a probe into Moscow's alleged interference in U.S. politics.

 

The talks with Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov were the highest-level public contact between Trump and the government of Russian President Vladimir Putin since the Republican took office on Jan. 20.

 

While not unprecedented, it is a rare privilege for a foreign minister to be received by a U.S. president for a bilateral meeting in the White House.

 

In a stunning development, Trump on Tuesday fired FBI Director James Comey, whose agency is investigating alleged Russian interference in the 2016 U.S. presidential election and the possibility Trump associates may have colluded with Moscow. Democrats accused Trump of trying to slow down the investigation by firing the FBI chief.

 

Trump described his talks with Lavrov as "very, very good." When asked whether the Comey dismissal had affected his meeting, Trump said, "not at all." He and Lavrov said they discussed the civil war in Syria, where Russia backs President Bashar al-Assad.

 

"We want to see the killing, the horrible killing, stopped in Syria as soon as possible and everyone is working towards that end," Trump told reporters.

 

Lavrov, who earlier met with U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, said his discussions with members of the Trump administration had convinced him they were people who wanted to cut deals and solve problems.

 

"The Trump administration, and the president himself, and the secretary of state, I was persuaded of this once again today, are people of action," Lavrov said.

 

U.S. intelligence agencies concluded in a January report that Putin had ordered an effort to disrupt the 2016 election that included hacking into Democratic Party emails and leaking them, with the aim of helping Trump.

 

'FAKE INFORMATION'

 

Russia denies the allegations. Blaming "fake information," Lavrov said:

"I believe that politicians are damaging the political system of the U.S., trying to pretend that someone is controlling America from the outside."

 

The Trump administration denies claims of collusion with Russia.

 

Earlier, as Tillerson and Lavrov posed for photographs, the Russian sarcastically deflected a reporter's question about Comey's dismissal.

 

Asked if the firing would cast a shadow over his talks, Lavrov replied: "Was he fired? You're kidding. You're kidding."

 

The Russian embassy in Washington tweeted a picture from the Lavrov meeting of Trump shaking hands with Russian Ambassador Sergei Kislyak, a man at the centre of the controversy on Russian contacts with associates of Trump.

 

Former U.S. National Security Advisor Michael Flynn was forced to resign for failing to disclose the content of his talks with Kislyak and then misleading Vice President Mike Pence about the conversations.

 

Senior Democratic Senator Dick Durbin said the Oval Office encounter was a photo opportunity for Russia. "President Trump in these pictures, is shaking hands with Russians, and the Kremlin is gleefully tweeting these pictures around the world," Durbin said on the Senate floor.

 

Wednesday's meetings followed talks Tillerson held with Putin last month in Moscow.

 

Tensions in the relationship grew following U.S. air strikes against a Syrian airfield in April in response to a chemical weapons attack that Washington blamed on Assad.

 

Both Trump and Lavrov appeared to strike a more conciliatory tone after both capitals had presented souring views of the relationship recently.

 

The White House said Trump "raised the possibility of broader cooperation on resolving conflicts in the Middle East and elsewhere" and still sought to build a better relationship between the two countries.

 

Lavrov said that despite difficulties "our countries can and should contribute jointly to the settlement of the most urgent issues in international affairs".

 

Trump underscored "the need for Russia to rein in the Assad regime, Iran and Iranian proxies," the White House said. Lavrov said the meeting mainly focused on ideas of de-escalation zones in Syria.

 

Russia brokered a deal for de-escalation zones with backing from Iran and Syrian opposition supporter Turkey during ceasefire talks in the Kazakh capital Astana last week.

 

(Reporting By Arshad Mohammed and Steve Holland,; Additional reporting by Ayesha Rascoe and Susan Cornwell in Washington and Polina Devitt in Moscow; Writing by Yara Bayoumy; Editing by Frances Kerry and Alistair Bell)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2017-05-11

[darksidedog]

Putins instructions to his puppet have been delivered then.

[Guest]

Supervisor Lavrov is seemingly happy with the performance of his two Washington office workers.

"You boys have messed things up in the USA - well done!"

[Cats4ever]

Gee the big fella in the photo above has been in a good paddock.

[boomerangutang]

Only Tass (official Russian) news agency personnel allowed in the room.  Not any US journalists.

[darksidedog]

Note the smile on Trumps face and compare it to the one when he was sat down with Merkel. He is happy to meet the enemy, but miserable when meeting the ally.

Anyone else find that a little unusual?

 

[mtls2005]

Lavrov's joking was sickening. What a douche.

 

More interesting timing: meeting with Lavrov and Kislyak.

 

"So now I take orders from this guy?"

 

Edited May 11, 2017 by mtls2005

[KarenBravo]

Trump administration are absolutely clueless about timing and appearances.  Apparently, they are shocked at the response from Democrats with regard to the Comey firing.  They actually thought the Democrats would be pleased.

 

This is the continuation of the best soap-opera in the world.

[boomerangutang]

Those three in the photo should drop their pants, get down on their hands and knees, and lick each others' butts.  Boy, that would be a photo-opp, and would get them to keep giggling like naughty schoolboys.

[boomerangutang]

Trump rudely dumping Comey, and then meeting the next day with his Russkie comrades is like giving the American people the middle finger.   I can almost hear Trump shouting, "ha ha ha, take that you stupid Americans.  I'm president now.  I can do whatever the hell I want, and the more it pisses off Americans, the more I enjoy it.  ha ha ha.  Oh, by the way, I decided America is going to use the ruble instead of the dollar, and Russian will be a required language subject in all American schools.  But I'll leave the stars and stripes flag for now.   You see, I don't hate America. ha ha ha."

[pegman]

24 minutes ago, darksidedog said:

Note the smile on Trumps face and compare it to the one when he was sat down with Merkel. He is happy to meet the enemy, but miserable when meeting the ally.

Anyone else find that a little unusual?

 

Whose enemy and whose ally?

The fed hound dogs  seem to have caught the scent of blood. It would not surprise me in the least if there were arrangements made for a hastily official visit to Moscow and the granting of political asylum. Trump and Snowden could hangout. The other option is their Washington Embassy. You have to think Comey had some loyalists at the FBI that they will be leaking up a storm in the next few weeks. This is going to pick up speed.

[Scott]

An inflammatory, off-topic post and reply has been removed.  

[jerojero]

Political system is being damaged by idiot Trump and stupid Republicans! And any criticism from Russia is a black pot and kettle remark. Sad.

 

 

 

 

[In the jungle]

The two Russians cannot contain their glee at the chaos that is Trump.

[sirmud63]

1 hour ago, KarenBravo said:

Trump administration are absolutely clueless about timing and appearances.  Apparently, they are shocked at the response from Democrats with regard to the Comey firing.  They actually thought the Democrats would be pleased.

 

This is the continuation of the best soap-opera in the world.

[Rhys]

...that had to be one funny meeting, is from moose and squirrel.

[fvw53]

4 hours ago, darksidedog said:

Putins instructions to his puppet have been delivered then.

Are they Trump's bankers : that is the question which hangs over "Russiagate" and the release of Trump tax declarations could learn a lot

[KarenBravo]

7 minutes ago, fvw53 said:

Are they Trump's bankers : that is the question which hangs over "Russiagate" and the release of Trump tax declarations could learn a lot

Not a question, but, a fact according to Eric Trump.

 

https://thinkprogress.org/eric-trump-reportedly-bragged-about-russian-funding-streams-e6f3e525f10e

http://nypost.com/2017/05/07/eric-trump-said-dads-golf-courses-were-funded-by-russia/

http://www.reuters.com/investigates/special-report/usa-trump-property/

[Grouse]

What an embarrassment! The trumpeteers are remarkably quiet!

[Srikcir]

7 hours ago, webfact said:

Russia's top diplomat met President Donald Trump on Wednesday and praised the U.S. administration as problem solvers

Just when you think Trump's approval rating can't get any worse than a historical low, Trump has this meeting with Russian officials in the White House. Now the results of another survey conducted by the Connecticut-based Quinnipiac University shows that Trump bested his own historical low with only 36% of voters approving of the way Trump is handling his job as President. 

https://www.rt.com/usa/387929-trump-ratings-quinnipiac-poll/

On the heels of firing the FBI Director who was leading the investigation into possible Russian-Trump et al collaboration in the 2016 POTUS election, absolutely no sense of timing.

[Farang hunter]

Trump will be impeached sooner or later.

[Jingthing]

Only Tass (official Russian) news agency personnel allowed in the room.  Not any US journalists.

Incredibly revealing.

[JHolmesJr]

5 hours ago, boomerangutang said:

Only Tass (official Russian) news agency personnel allowed in the room.  Not any US journalists.

I love it..this is the right response for a media that is irrationally anti trump. A media that is a donor to the other side who trump beat fair and square.

 

who can trust them, certainly not Mr T

[Becker]

2 hours ago, JHolmesJr said:

I love it..this is the right response for a media that is irrationally anti trump. A media that is a donor to the other side who trump beat fair and square.

 

who can trust them, certainly not Mr T

First of all, I think it makes the man-child a traitor. I will not dwell on what that makes those who support that kind of behavior.

Secondly: ".... a media that is irrationally anti trump."

Irrationally???? 

[klikster]

5 hours ago, JHolmesJr said:

I love it..this is the right response for a media that is irrationally anti trump. A media that is a donor to the other side who trump beat fair and square.

 

who can trust them, certainly not Mr T

When did you decide that a POTUS should ignore the constitution?

First Amendment - 

https://www.law.cornell.edu/constitution/first_amendment

 

[Basil B]

I wonder if when in private the Russian minister told Trump "We have the dirt so do a Putin tells you"...

[Redline]

11 hours ago, boomerangutang said:

Only Tass (official Russian) news agency personnel allowed in the room.  Not any US journalists.

The bugs are in place...oh you need to use the toilet.  A mockery

[Guest]

Just now, Basil B said:

I wonder if when in private the Russian minister told Trump "We have the dirt so do a Putin tells you"...

Trump knows that already. After all Russia made him and knows very well about his connections to Russia.

 

It's like having a serious religious man falling for Russian hooker and then blackmailing him afterwards. Only this time the bait was not sex/love. The bait was money/power.

 

 

 

 

 

[boomerangutang]

12 hours ago, Rhys said:

...that had to be one funny meeting, is from moose and squirrel.

And don't forget Natasha.  You remember her?  She's the one the villain (Snidely Whiplash) ties to the railroad tracks.  Guess who the villain is?

 

8 hours ago, JHolmesJr said:

I love it..this is the right response for a media that is irrationally anti trump. A media that is a donor to the other side who trump beat fair and square. who can trust them, certainly not Mr T

                       By and large, the mainstream media, Fox excluded, report the news.  It just so happens that Trumpsters hate news and truth right now.   Luckily for Trump fans, Trump has the power to fire many people.  He's already fired 3 people who could lead some of the many investigations into his (and his buddies') law-breaking.  

                              I predicted Trump firing Comey in T.Visa posts from months ago.  There is a lot more cover-ups and firings Trump can initiate.  Other than bankrupting companies, that's what Trump is good at.  Indeed, the quicker and ruder (the firing) the better, according to Trump.   One indication Trump is going to fire someone, is when Trump precedes it with praise and/or promises of never firing that person.  Of 2 out of the 3 lead investigators Trump has fired in recent months, one was thrown kisses (literally) and both were told, by Trump, they were doing excellent jobs.  

 

                        If you work in D.C. (or NYC) and Trump acts particularly friendly/laudatory toward you, you can expect your tenure is about to be abruptly and rudely terminated.

 

 

 

[boomerangutang]

3 hours ago, oilinki said:

Trump knows that already. After all Russia made him and knows very well about his connections to Russia.

 

It's like having a serious religious man falling for Russian hooker and then blackmailing him afterwards. Only this time the bait was not sex/love. The bait was money/power.

The above gets my vote for Best Post of the Day (only 10 minutes until Friday)