Putin: Trump willing to mend, Russian Federation willing to freeze

Just before the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit opened its first formal session Sunday in the Peruvian capital, Obama spoke briefly with Russian President Vladimir Putin, who was standing by his seat at a huge circular table around which the participants were arrayed. He said he has already spoken with President-elect Donald Trump and shared his views on a number of issues, particularly trade and the fight against the Islamic State group.

“As usual I was candid and courteous but very clear about the strong differences we have on policy”, Obama said.

A White House official alter said Mr. Obama encouraged Mr. Putin to uphold his country’s commitments under the Minsk deal aimed at ending the Ukraine conflict.

Moreover, Putin predicted Trump’s election will not hinder trade development in APEC countries, stating that he campaigned against the sweeping Trans-Pacific Partnership trade agreement among 12 Pacific Rim countries.

Esperon and other Cabinet officials told reporters how the Duterte-Putin bilateral meeting went, a meeting which the Philippine President had said he was looking forward to.

Obama and Putin have long had a strained relationship.

In the run-up to the U.S. election, the United States also accused Russian Federation of trying to interfere in the election, including by hacking Democratic Party email systems.

Improving US ties with Russian Federation was a key plank of US President-elect Donald Trump’s foreign policy during the election campaign.

The president-elect noted that it would be “nice” if he and Vladimir Putin could get along.

Donald Trump will not be able to make good on his election campaign promises, because of, well, reality, according to Barack Obama.

Obama urged Putin to adhere to the Minsk agreements to stop the fighting in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions of Ukraine where Russian Federation has been accused of backing dissident groups, supplying arms and military advice. Putin said on Sunday that Trump had confirmed to him that he was willing to mend ties.

When Putin said Russian Federation would withdraw from the International Criminal Court (ICC) last week, Duterte was quick to offer his support by threatening to pull the Philippines out too.

He went on to add that this APEC summit was particularly important for the development of the association, especially in the light of the fact that the future of the USA -led Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) is up in the air, as Donald Trump has said he does not support the project.