HAMBURG, GERMANY (CNN) — President Donald Trump said Friday at his first bilateral meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin that “we look forward to a lot of very positive things happening” for Russia, the US and all concerned.
President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin began their first official meeting after 4 p.m. local time in Hamburg, Germany, on Friday.
Both leaders were in Germany for the G20 summit.
They spoke briefly to reporters before starting a closed discussion
Trump and Putin, before their official sit-down, briefly met and shook hands in what appeared — according to video posted by the German government — to be a collegial encounter.
Trump approaches Putin in the video as the Russian president stands at a high table during an introductory reception at the G20. Trump extends his hand and a smiling Putin takes it. Trump pats the Russian president’s arm with his left hand during the greeting.
In another clip of video, the men stand side-by-side, smiling broadly. Trump then pats Putin on the back before the video cuts away.
Trump’s formal meeting with Putin, a pivotal encounter that will likely color the tone and tenor of US relations with Russia for years, and sits atop Trump’s schedule of critical meetings on Friday.
The-CNN-Wire ™ & © 2017 Cable News Network, Inc., a Time Warner Company. All rights reserved. (Photo: CNN)
