RUSSIA/TRUMP AS PRESIDENT: “It ought to be nothing but good news that two nations who could obliterate the globe with their nuclear weapons are meeting to mend their dangerously spiraling relations…But when Trump and Putin sit down in Helsinki the spotlight will be on everything but their crucial talks on North Korea, Syria, Iran and fraying disarmament treaties and fears of a new arms race. Trump’s own shock-and-awe diplomacy, his odd habit of cozying up to the Russian leader, his recent attacks on America’s closest allies while favoring US enemies and the morass in American politics over a Kremlin election meddling operation will make their debut stand-alone encounter rich with intrigue and uncertainty. Trump whipped up a new storm over Russia Thursday [6-28-18] with a tweet that gave credence to Russia’s denial that it had intervened in the 2016 White House race and defied US intelligence assessments, only minutes before the summit was announced…But Trump’s refusal to ever criticize Putin, his incessant attacks on the institutions of the post-World War II international liberal order, his habit of repeating Kremlin talking points and his difficult relationships with Western leaders who see Russia as a threat, mean his motives are constantly questioned when it comes to relations with Moscow.”
–Stephen Collinson, “Intrigue and uncertainty loom over Trump-Putin summit,” CNN Politics, CNN.com, June 28, 2018 2:34 pm