Putin briefs Trump over Ukraine during 'informal' conversation

World
Europe

01:20

Russian President Vladimir Putin said Saturday that he had explained Moscow's position on the Ukrainian crisis to Trump when the two met briefly at a dinner during the Group of 20 (G20) Summit in Argentina.

"He has his own opinion on this issue and I have my opinion. We both stick to our opinions. But anyway, I informed him about our view of this incident. It is regrettable we cannot hold a full-scale meeting," Putin said.

The White House also confirmed that the two presidents had an "informal meeting" during the summit.

The Russian president came under pressure in Buenos Aires. A week ago, the Ukrainian Navy said Russian forces opened fire and seized three Ukrainian ships and 24 sailors near the Kerch Strait.

The incident drew criticism of Moscow from Europe, and caused Trump to abruptly cancel their scheduled meeting.

Trump tweeted earlier on Thursday before arriving in Argentina for the G20 summit that "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!" he added.

In his interview with CNN on Saturday, U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo explained that Trump had canceled the meeting "because the Russians behaved in a way that is deeply inconsistent with international law and is outrageous."

Speaking about the conditions for a second Trump-Putin summit, Pompeo said that "we want the sailors returned, we want the ships returned."

The Ukrainian Navy said Sunday that Russian forces opened fire and seized three Ukrainian ships near the Kerch Strait, adding that six Ukrainian military sailors were wounded, two of them in serious condition.

Russian authorities said the Ukrainian ships breached the Russian border and conducted dangerous maneuvers in spite of orders from accompanying Russian vessels.

The Ukrainian Navy said that it had informed Russia in advance about the passage of Ukrainian vessels from the Black Sea to the Sea of Azov through the Kerch Strait.

In the meantime, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Sunday that Russia is ready to resume dialogue with the U.S. under an offer from U.S. National Security Adviser John Bolton as soon as Washington is ready to do so.

Bolton contacted Russian presidential aide Yury Ushakov and confirmed that the two countries would like to resume and normalize dialogue, Lavrov told state TV channel Rossiya-1 on the sidelines of the G20 (Group of 20) summit.

"We are ready for this, as soon as our colleagues are ready for this," Lavrov said, according to a transcript published by his ministry.

Ushakov said it is possible for Putin and Trump to hold a meeting before the next G20 summit in 2019.

Source(s): Xinhua News Agency