WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin vowed to improve troubled relations between the two countries at their first summit at Helsinki.
Addressing a joint press conference after talks on an array of issues from Syria, Ukraine and China to trade tariffs and the size of their nuclear arsenals, both the leaders expressed a desire to continue cooperation on global challenges.
President Trump during the press conference denied any collusion between his election campaign and the Kremlin.
Rather, he criticized the US investigation by special counsel Robert Mueller terming it as a "disaster" for the United States.
Meanwhile, President Trump's handling of a joint news conference with Russian counterpart stirred a wave of condemnation in the United States.
US President's performance was denounced as treasonous by a former CIA chief, and U.S. Senator John McCain called the meeting with Putin a tragic mistake.
APP