Trump arrives in Helsinki for first summit with Putin

July 16, 2018 08:58

United States President Donald Trump has arrived in Helsinki for the first summit with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin after he lashed out at the media for being critical of his Russian policy.

Air Force One touched down at Helsinki Airport carrying Trump ahead of the historic meeting with Putin scheduled for today.

He was greeted by the US Ambassador to Finland Robert Pence, media reports said.

Earlier, he had tweeted before leaving for the capital of Finland.

"Heading to Helsinki, Finland -- looking forward to meeting with President Putin tomorrow," Trump said in a tweet as he boarded Air Force One for Helsinki.

"Unfortunately, no matter how well I do at the Summit, if I was given the great city of Moscow as retribution for all of the sins and evils committed by Russia... over the years, I would return to criticism that it wasn't good enough that I should have gotten Saint Petersburg in addition!" he said.

"Much of our news media is indeed the enemy of the people and all the Democrats know how to do is resist and obstruct! This is why there is such hatred and dissension in our country but at some point, it will heal!" Trump said in a series of tweets.

Trump's meeting with Putin comes days after a federal grand jury indicted 12 Russian intelligence officials on charges of hacking the servers of the Democratic National Committee and that of its 2016 presidential candidate Hillary Clinton.

Trump arrived with his wife First Lady Melania Trump and a host of other dignitaries, including White House Chief of Staff John Kelly, National Security Advisor John Bolton and his chief of staff Fred Fleitz, Policy Advisor Stephen Miller, Social Media Director Dan Scavino and Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders.

On Monday host President Sauli Niinisto is scheduled to meet Trump in the morning before Trump and Putin sit down to a bilateral meeting first without aides and then with their teams of support staff, according to media reports.

Trump also congratulated France for winning the Football World Cup for the second time and congratulated Putin for a "truly great" tournament.

"Congratulations to France, who played extraordinary soccer, on winning the 2018 World Cup. Additionally, congratulations to President Putin and Russia for putting on a truly great World Cup Tournament - one of the best ever!," he said. -- PTI

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