Trump cancels Putin meeting, cites Ukraine crisis

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U.S. President Donald Trump on Thursday abruptly canceled a planned meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Argentina, registering his disapproval of Russia's treatment of Ukraine and casting new uncertainty over U.S.-Russian ties.

Trump said he pulled out due to tensions over Russian forces opening fire on Ukrainian navy boats and then seizing them and their crew on Sunday near Crimea, which Russia annexed from Ukraine in 2014.

His decision also comes as a federal investigation into his 2016 election campaign's ties to Russia is intensifying. Trump's former lawyer Michael Cohen pleaded guilty on Thursday to lying to Congress about a proposed Trump real estate project in Russia.

"Based on the fact that the ships and sailors have not been returned to Ukraine from Russia, I have decided it would be best for all parties concerned to cancel my previously scheduled meeting in Argentina with President Vladimir Putin. I look forward to a meaningful summit again as soon as this situation is resolved," Trump tweeted.

Trump's tweet, from aboard Air Force One shortly after takeoff from Washington on the way to Buenos Aires for a Group of 20 (G20) summit, was a sudden turnaround.

Roughly an hour earlier, he had told reporters he would probably meet with Putin at the summit and said it was "a very good time to have the meeting."

Trump based his move on guidance from senior advisers who have taken a harsher tone toward Russia. He was briefed by Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, White House chief of staff John Kelly and national security adviser John Bolton, said Sarah Sanders, a spokesperson for the White House.

Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova, Russia, April 12, 2017. /VCG Photo

Russia: Trump's cancellation due to domestic reasons

The U.S. president's announcement appeared to catch Moscow by surprise, with Russian officials getting their first news of it from the media.

Trump canceled his meeting with Vladimir Putin due to domestic issues rather than the Ukraine situation, Russian foreign ministry said on Friday.

"Is the provocation started by Kiev in this area (Azov Sea) a real reason for the cancellation? We heard that as an official version and we accepted that. Is it a real one? I believe we should look for answers in the U.S. domestic political situation," Maria Zakharova, a spokesperson for the Kremlin was quoted as saying by Russian news agencies.

Earlier, the Kremlin expressed its regrets over Trump's decision and said Russia is ready for the meeting.

"A cancellation means that the discussion on key international issues is being postponed indefinitely," said Dmitry Peskov, a spokesperson for the Kremlin.

(Cover photo: U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin hold a joint news conference after their meeting in Helsinki, Finland, July 16, 2018. /VCG Photo)

Source(s): Reuters