Advertisement Continue reading the main storyMr. Trump entered the meeting hoping to put an end to the scrutiny over his election. Mr. Putin wanted a way out of the Western sanctions that have hobbled the Russian economy since he annexed Crimea and interfered in Ukraine. For Mr. Trump, however, the main focus, at least for part of the day, was trying to move past an issue that has caused him political problems at home. The Justice Department has named a special counsel to investigate Russia’s interference in the campaign and whether Trump associates colluded with Russia. Russian officials provided an alternative account, asserting that Mr. Trump had accepted Mr. Putin’s denial of the election interference and had even said that some in the United States were “exaggerating” Moscow’s role without proof.

Source: New York Times July 07, 2017 21:02 UTC