Trump names EU a global foe, raps media before Putin summit
https://www.idahostatesman.com/news/nation-world/article214916405.html
HELSINKI
President Donald Trump named the European Union as a top adversary of the United States and denounced the news media as the "enemy of the people" before arriving in Helsinki on Sunday on the eve of his high-stakes summit with Russia's Vladimir Putin.
Trump and his top aides were downplaying expectations for Monday's summit as Trump continued to rattle allies by lumping in the EU with Russia and China after barnstorming across Europe, causing chaos at the recent NATO summit and in a trip to the United Kingdom.
Trump spent the weekend in Scotland at his resort in Turnberry, golfing, tweeting and granting an interview to CBS News in which he named the EU, a bloc of nations that includes many of America's closest allies, at the top of his list of biggest global foes.
"I think the European Union is a foe, what they do to us in trade," Trump said, adding that "you wouldn't think of the European Union, but they're a foe."
Sticking points for Trump and Putin at Helsinki summit
https://www.thenational.ae/world/europe/sticking-points-for-trump-and-putin-at-helsinki-summit-1.750448
The US and Russian presidents may swap compliments at their first summit in Helsinki on Monday, but they are deeply divided on issues including Syria, Ukraine and alleged Russian election-meddling.
Washington has imposed a series of sanctions against Russia over recent years, some of which Mr Trump himself reluctantly signed off on after taking office in 2017.
Here is a summary of the sticking points between the two powers: Since the start of Mr Trump's presidency, relations have been tainted by allegations of Russian interference in the 2016 US elections and suspicions that the billionaire's campaign team colluded with the Kremlin.
Russia has denied any interference. US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has insisted that Mr Trump at his meeting with Mr Putin "will make clear that meddling in our elections is completely unacceptable."
Along with its Western allies, the US accuses Moscow of providing military support to pro-Russian separatists fighting government forces in eastern Ukraine. Russia denies this.
Washington long resisted providing lethal weapons to Ukraine, fearing this could exacerbate the conflict, but in March the US approved a deal to sell anti-tank missiles to Kiev, angering Russia.
President Trump has made evasive comments on whether Washington might recognise Russia's annexation of Crimea from Ukraine.
Syria quagmire -
Air strikes on Syria by the US and its allies in April 2017 and April 2018 in response to alleged chemical attacks by President Bashar Al Assad's forces have infuriated Russia.
In February, Moscow said a number of Russian civilians were killed by US-led coalition bombing. These were reportedly mercenaries fighting alongside pro-regime forces.
- Disarmament feuds -
The US and Russia have accused each other of breaking international agreements over disarmament.
In March, Mr Putin boasted Russia has developed new "invincible" weapons including hypersonic missiles and unmanned submarines.
The Pentagon in February called for a revamp of the US nuclear arsenal and development of new low-yield atomic weapons.
Moscow condemned the new US nuclear policy as "bellicose" and "anti-Russian."
- Tensions over Nato -
Moscow views Nato's moves to beef up its eastern defences as aggressive steps aimed at encircling Russia.
Russia is also concerned with Nato plans launched in 2010 for a European missile shield that is due to be completed in 2020 with installations in Romania and Poland.
President Trump has lashed out at other Nato allies, urging them to spend more on defence.
- Iran nuclear deal -
The American leader's unilateral decision to pull out of the Iranian nuclear deal signed in 2015 after lengthy negotiations and to reimpose sanctions on Iran left both Russia and the West flabbergasted.
Russia, which has close ties both with Syria and Iran, has said European countries must "jointly defend their legal interests" in the deal.
- North Korea -
Russia reacted positively to a June 12 meeting between Mr Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. They signed a joint declaration but did not achieve any concrete breakthroughs on Pyongyang's nuclear activities.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov afterwards told state news agency RIA Novosti: "We very much hope that he (Trump) starts the process of de-escalating tensions."