Trump, in Poland, waives bargaining chip before confronting Putin

World
Europe

‍By CGTN's Le Tian

Standing alongside his Polish counterpart in Warsaw on Thursday, the visiting President Donald Trump relayed a mixed message -- implying Russia could have been among other powers meddled in the US presidential election.

"I think it was Russia but I think it was probably other people and or countries..." Trump informed reporters, before rebuking his predecessor Barack Obama for doing "nothing" to address Russian's alleged interference.

"Why did he do nothing about it? He was told it was Russia by the CIA ... and he did nothing about it."

Trump's defensive comments were made as he paid a visit to Poland, a member state of NATO geographically close to Russia, a day ahead of the G20 Summit in Hamburg.

Notably, Trump set Poland as his point of arrival in Europe rather than the traditional American allies in the center of Europe. The US president said his country shares similar values with the eastern European nation, and in terms of climate change and immigration the Trump administration has displayed similar positions with Poland.

"We've discussed our mutual commitment to safeguarding the values at the heart of our alliance: freedom, sovereignty and the rule of law," Trump told reporters as he spoke alongside Polish President Andrezj Duda. But what really caused ructions was his decision to call on Russia to “cease its destabilizing activities in Ukraine and elsewhere” and to end its support for "hostile regimes."

Polish President Andrzej Duda (R) and US President Donald Trump shake hands after holding a joint press conference at the Royal Castle in Warsaw, Poland on July 6, 2017. /VCG Photo

Choosing the day just before his first face-to-face meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin on the sidelines of the G20 Summit to make the comment, Trump's motivation was perhaps both to irk this long-time adversary and distract from legal and political pressure at home.

Even hours ahead of Trump-Putin meeting, the American media speculated that Trump would struggle to match the savvy leader President Putin, given the Russian's long experience in such scenarios.

US President Donald Trump speaks during a joint news conference with Polish President Andrzej Duda in Warsaw, Poland on July 6, 2017. /VCG Photo

Putin wants the US to lift the sanctions over Crimea, allow Russian forces a freer hand in Syria, and stop what Russia regards as a NATO advance east. Trump, renowned for his reliance on quick wits rather than detailed research, is seen by some to be at a risk of being outplayed by Putin. According to the US National Security Advisor HR McMaster, Trump actually has no plans for his meeting with Putin. "It’s whatever the president wants to talk about,” he said.

Russia-related investigations from politicians and authorities continue to besiege the president and his administration. A US senate probe into whether aides or officials from the Trump campaign team or his transition team colluded with Russia is ongoing, as is an investigation by special counsel Robert Muller. Although Trump denies all allegations, smoke over the issue continues to bellow.

Trump's Poland visit can be seen as a way to resist pressure ahead of his meeting with Putin. Certainly, he wants to offer assurance to Eastern Europe countries that the US is still reliable, which will also leave some pressure on Putin before meeting to earn some bargaining chips. Also, in a nation seen as a European frontier with Russia, he bravely admitted that Russia's meddling always exists, which can function as a beat back to "pro-Russia" criticisms.

The US President Donald Trump and the First Lady of the United States Melania Trump, with the Polish President Andrzej Duda and the First Lady of the Poland Agata Agata Kornhauser-Duda, at Krasinski Square, near the Warsaw Uprising Monument. On Thursday, July 6, 2017, in Warsaw, Poland. /VCG Photo

For this pair of age-old rivals, it is unrealistic to resolve all the existing disputes through any single bilateral meeting. However, it is likely that cooperation will best any "battling" resulting from the meet.

On Syria, conflicts are reconcilable. The US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said on Wednesday that the US is ready to discuss an associative mechanism coping with Syria issues. He believed that stable ground force cooperation between two sides would be good for Syria's political future.

Regarding Ukraine, it is hard for the US and Russia to find agreement, as neither is willing to make concessions. Ukraine announced plans to join NATO as state policy on Thursday, right before the Trump-Putin meet.

The US President Donald Trump stands in front of the Warsaw Uprising Monument on July 6, 2017. /VCG Photo

Tillerson will visit Ukraine on Sunday, following the G20 Summit, as an attempt to build relations with the country. This is a strong indication of the US stance on Ukraine issues.

No matter whether "election meddling" exists or not, the Trump-Putin meet undoubtedly has significance to the wider world.

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