Just days ahead of the anticipated Helsinki summit between Presidents Putin and Trump, Kremlin adviser Yuri Ushakov issued a statement hailing Trump as a negotiating partner. He appeared upbeat about the chances of the talks.
“The state of bilateral relations is very bad,” said Ushakov. “We have to start to set them right.” President Trump has similarly expressed hope for a substantial improvement in bilateral ties.
Spokesman Dmitry Peskov says that he believes the summit should not be about “bargaining,” but rather an opportunity for both sides to clarify positions on a number of topics on which they likely disagree.
Ushakov says the hope is to restore trust between the two sides to an “acceptable level,” and to set the stage for continuing contact going forward. This is the first official summit since Trump took office.
Call 911! Rachel Maddow’s head is about to explode!
I understand from press reports that Trump and Putin speak with one another regularly by phone. By one account, their phone conversations number as many as two or three a day on some occasions.
Whereas some in today’s poisoned political climate might / would refer to such conversations as treasonous on the part of Mr. Trump, I’ve always held that communications, freely-conducted, reasonable, respectful and even-handed communications, are the way that adults conduct themselves. And, I think the true motives of those who might disparage any American leader for talking objectively and politely to another nation’s leader are suspect for a hidden agenda.
If true, I’m glad.