On Sunday, President Donald Trump issued a series of tweets about his G-20 summit meetings, revealing Russian President Vladimir Putin’s response to questions about election meddling, commenting on a new cease-fire agreement in parts of Syria and announcing the potential creation of an important cybersecurity agreement between the United States and Russia.
“The G 20 Summit was a great success for the U.S. - Explained that the U.S. must fix the many bad trade deals it has made. Will get done!” Trump wrote on Twitter on Sunday.
The G 20 Summit was a great success for the U.S. - Explained that the U.S. must fix the many bad trade deals it has made. Will get done!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 9, 2017
“I strongly pressed President Putin twice about Russian meddling in our election,” Trump also wrote. “He vehemently denied it. I've already given my opinion. ....” [sic]
Trump didn’t elaborate on his “opinion” or whether he accepted Putin’s explanation during the meeting, but he did say during the meetings, “Questions were asked about why the CIA & FBI had to ask the DNC 13 times for their SERVER, and were rejected, still don't … have it. Fake News said 17 intel agencies when actually 4 (had to apologize). Why did Obama do NOTHING when he had info before election?”
...and safe. Questions were asked about why the CIA & FBI had to ask the DNC 13 times for their SERVER, and were rejected, still don't....
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 9, 2017
...have it. Fake News said 17 intel agencies when actually 4 (had to apologize). Why did Obama do NOTHING when he had info before election?
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 9, 2017
Trump also commented on the cease-fire in some regions in Syria that was recently brokered by the United States, Russia and Jordan. Trump wrote on Twitter he believes it “will save lives” and that “it is time to move forward in working constructively with Russia!”
...We negotiated a ceasefire in parts of Syria which will save lives. Now it is time to move forward in working constructively with Russia!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 9, 2017
CBS News has reported the cease-fire, which is open-ended and was announced on Thursday following a meeting between Trump and Putin, went into effect on Sunday at noon.
Trump also announced he and Putin discussed forming a new “impenetrable Cyber Security unit” that would help to prevent “election hacking” and “many other negative things.”
Putin & I discussed forming an impenetrable Cyber Security unit so that election hacking, & many other negative things, will be guarded..
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 9, 2017
Since hearing of the possible new agreement with Russia, many on the left (and some on the right) have criticized the discussions, saying Russia shouldn't be trusted.
In response to these criticisms, in an interview that aired on Sunday with CNN’s “State of the Union,” Nikki Haley, the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, said the United States "won't ever trust" the Russian government.
"It doesn't mean we ever take our eyes off the ball,” Haley said. “It doesn't mean we ever trust Russia. We can't trust Russia, and we won't ever trust Russia. But you keep those that you don't trust closer so that you can always keep an eye on them and keep them in check.”
