Fact
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Donald J. Trump
Press Conference: Donald Trump Holds a Press Conference With Vladimir Putin - July 16, 2018
StressLens
1 Topic
Entities
Moderation
6 Speakers
Vladimir Putin Full Transcript
Vladimir Putin
00:01:09-00:01:39 (30 sec)No StressLens
[Via Interpreter] Today, both Russia and the United States face a whole new set of challenges. Those include a dangerous maladjustment of mechanisms for maintaining international security and stability, regional crises, the creeping threats of terrorism and transnational crime, the snowballing problems in the economy, environmental risks and other sets of challenges.
Vladimir Putin
00:01:47-00:02:12 (25 sec)No StressLens
[Via Interpreter] Today's negotiations reflected our joint wish -- our joint wish with President Trump to readdress this negative situation in the bilateral relationship. I outlined first steps for improving this relationship, to restore the acceptable level of trust and going back to the previous level of interaction on all mutual interest issues.
Vladimir Putin
00:02:12-00:02:40 (28 sec)No StressLens
[Via Interpreter] As major nuclear powers, we bear special responsibility for maintaining international security. [Inaudible] vital -- and we mentioned this here in the negotiations -- it's crucial that we fine-tune the dialogue on strategic stability and global security and nonproliferation of weapons of mass destruction. We submitted our American colleagues a note with a number of specific suggestions.
Vladimir Putin
00:02:40-00:03:17 (36 sec)No StressLens
[Via Interpreter] We believe it necessary to work together further on -- to interact on the disarmament agenda, military and technical cooperation. This includes the extension of the Strategic Offensive Arms Limitation Treaty. It's a dangerous situation with a global American antimissile defense system, it's the implementation issues with the INF treaty. And, of course, the agenda of non-placement of weapons in space.
Vladimir Putin
00:03:17-00:03:43 (26 sec)No StressLens
[Via Interpreter] We favor the continued cooperation in counterterrorism and maintaining cybersecurity. And I'd like to point out specifically that our special services are cooperating quite successfully together. The most recent example is their operational cooperation within the recently concluded World Football Cup.
Vladimir Putin
00:03:43-00:04:01 (18 sec)No StressLens
[Via Interpreter] In general, the context among the special services should be put to a systemwide basis -- should be brought to a systemic framework. I recall I reminded President Trump about this suggestion to re-establish the working group on antiterrorism. We also mentioned a plethora of regional crises.
Vladimir Putin
00:04:51-00:05:17 (27 sec)No StressLens
[Via Interpreter] In order to accomplish this level of successful cooperation in Syria, we have all the required components. Let me remind you of that. Both Russian and American military have acquired the useful experience of coordination of their action, established the operational channels of communication which permit it to avoid dangerous incidents and unintentional collisions in the air and in the ground.
Vladimir Putin
00:05:17-00:05:50 (33 sec)No StressLens
[Via Interpreter] Also crushing terrorists in the southwest of Syria. The south of Syria should be brought to the full compliance with the treaty of 1974, about the separation of forces -- about separation of forces of Israel and Syria. This will bring peace to Golan Heights, and bring more peaceful relationship between Syria and Israel, and also to provide security of the state of Israel.
Vladimir Putin
00:06:02-00:06:40 (38 sec)No StressLens
[Via Interpreter] Thus far, we will make a step toward creating a lasting peace in compliance with the respective resolutions of Security Council, for instance, the Resolution 338. We are glad that the Korean Peninsula issue is starting to resolve. To a great extent, it was possible thanks to the personal engagement of President Trump, who opted for dialogue instead of confrontation. We also mentioned our concern about the withdrawal of the United States from the JCPOA.
Vladimir Putin
00:06:40-00:07:05 (24 sec)No StressLens
[Via Interpreter] Well, the U.S. -- our U.S. counterparts are aware of our posture. Let me remind you that thanks to the Iranian nuclear deal, Iran became the most controlled country in the world. It submitted to the control of IAEA. It effectively ensured the exclusively peaceful nature of Iranian nuclear program and strengthened the nonproliferation regime.
Vladimir Putin
00:07:05-00:07:26 (22 sec)No StressLens
[Via Interpreter] While we discussed the internal Ukrainian crisis, we paid special attention to the bona fide implementation of Minsk Agreements by Kiev. At the same time, United States could be more decisive in nudging the Ukrainian leadership, and encourage it to work actively on this.
Vladimir Putin
00:07:26-00:07:52 (26 sec)No StressLens
[Via Interpreter] We paid more attention to economic ties and economic cooperation. It's clear that both countries -- the business of both countries are interested in this. American delegation was one of the largest delegations in the St. Petersburg Economic Forum. It featured over 500 representatives from American businesses.
Vladimir Putin
00:07:52-00:08:15 (23 sec)No StressLens
[Via Interpreter] We agreed -- me and President Trump -- we agreed to create a high-level working group that would bring together captains of Russian and American business. After all, entrepreneurs and businessmen know better how to articulate this successful business cooperation. We'll let them think and make their proposals and suggestions in this regard.
Vladimir Putin
00:08:15-00:08:41 (25 sec)No StressLens
[Via Interpreter] Once again, President Trump mentioned the issue of the so-called interference of Russia with the American elections, and I had to reiterate things I said several times, including during our personal contacts, that the Russian state has never interfered and is not going to interfere into internal American affairs, including election process.
Vladimir Putin
00:08:41-00:09:00 (19 sec)No StressLens
[Via Interpreter] Any specific material -- if such things arise -- we are ready to analyze together. For instance, we can analyze them through the joint working group on cybersecurity, the establishment of which we discussed during our previous contacts.
Vladimir Putin
00:09:00-00:09:26 (26 sec)No StressLens
[Via Interpreter] And clearly, it's past time we restore our cooperation in the cultural area and the humanitarian area. As far as -- I think you know that recently we hosted the American Congressional Delegation, and now it's perceived and portrayed almost as a historic event, while -- although it should have been just a current affairs, just business as usual.
Vladimir Putin
00:09:26-00:09:47 (22 sec)No StressLens
[Via Interpreter] And in this regard, we mentioned this proposal to the President, we have to think about practicalities of our cooperation, but also about the rationality of the underlying logic of it. And we have to engage experts on bilateral relationship who know history and the background of our relationship.
Vladimir Putin
00:09:47-00:10:08 (20 sec)No StressLens
[Via Interpreter] The idea is to create an expert council that would include political scientists, prominent diplomats and former military experts from both countries who would look for points of contact between the two countries and would look for ways on putting the relationship on the trajectory of growth.
Vladimir Putin
00:10:08-00:10:27 (20 sec)No StressLens
[Via Interpreter] In general, we are glad with the outcome of our first full-scale meeting, because previously we only had a chance to talk briefly on international fora. We had a good conversation with President Trump, and I hope that we start to understand each other better. And I'm grateful to Donald for it.
Vladimir Putin
00:10:27-00:10:50 (23 sec)No StressLens
[Via Interpreter] Clearly there are some challenges left when we were not able to clear all the backlog, but I think that we made the first important step in this direction. And in conclusion, I want to point out that this atmosphere of cooperation is something that we are especially grateful for to our Finnish hosts.
Donald Trump
00:11:03-00:11:32 (29 sec)No Signal (0.462)
Thank you very much. Thank you. I have just concluded a meeting with President Putin on a wide range of critical issues for both of our countries. We had direct, open, deeply productive dialogue. Went very well. Before I begin, I want to thank President Niinisto of Finland for graciously hosting today's summit.
Donald Trump
00:11:32-00:11:56 (23 sec)No Signal (0.179)
President Putin and I were saying how lovely it was and what a great job they did. I also want to congratulate Russia and President Putin for having done such an excellent job in hosting the World Cup. It was really one of the best ever. And your team also did very well. It was a great job.
Donald Trump
00:12:40-00:13:00 (20 sec)No Signal (0.452)
Too often, in both recent past and long ago, we have seen the consequences when diplomacy is left on the table. We've also seen the benefits of cooperation. In the last century, our nations fought alongside one another in the Second World War.
Donald Trump
00:13:00-00:13:28 (28 sec)No Signal (0.262)
Even during the tensions of the Cold War, when the world looked much different than it does today, the United States and Russia were able to maintain a strong dialogue. But our relationship has never been worse than it is now. However, that changed as of about four hours ago. I really believe that.
Donald Trump
00:13:28-00:13:52 (23 sec)No Signal (0.051)
Nothing would be easier politically than to refuse to meet, to refuse to engage, but that would not accomplish anything. As President, I cannot make decisions on foreign policy in a futile effort to appease partisan critics, or the media, or Democrats who want to do nothing but resist and obstruct.
Donald Trump
00:13:52-00:14:22 (31 sec)No Signal (0.402)
Constructive dialogue between the United States and Russia affords the opportunity to open new pathways toward peace and stability in our world. I would rather take a political risk in pursuit of peace than to risk peace in pursuit of politics. As President, I will always put what is best for America and what is best for the American people.
Donald Trump
00:14:55-00:15:16 (21 sec)No Signal (0.029)
I provided an update on my meeting last month with Chairman Kim on the denuclearization of North Korea. And after today, I am very sure that President Putin and Russia want very much to end that problem, going to work with us. And I appreciate that commitment.
Donald Trump
00:15:16-00:15:37 (21 sec)No Signal (0.117)
The President and I also discussed the scourge of radical Islamic terrorism. Both Russia and the United States has suffered horrific terrorist attacks, and we have agreed to maintain open communication between our security agencies to protect our citizens from this global menace.
Donald Trump
00:15:56-00:16:17 (21 sec)No Signal (0.052)
I also emphasized the importance of placing pressure on Iran to halt its nuclear ambitions, and to stop its campaign of violence throughout the area, throughout the Middle East. As we discussed at length, the crisis in Syria is a complex one.
Donald Trump
00:16:17-00:16:39 (22 sec)No Signal (0.157)
Cooperation between our two countries has the potential to save hundreds of thousands of lives. I also made clear that the United States will not allow Iran to benefit from our successful campaign against ISIS. We have just about eradicated ISIS in the area.
Donald Trump
00:16:39-00:17:09 (31 sec)No Signal (0.123)
We also agreed that representatives from our national security councils will meet to follow up on all of the issues we addressed today, and to continue the progress we have started right here in Helsinki. Today's meeting is only the beginning of a longer process, but we have taken the first step toward a brighter future and one with a strong dialogue and a lot of thought.
Donald Trump
00:17:23-00:17:46 (23 sec)No Signal (0.199)
President Putin, I want to thank you again for joining me for these important discussions and for advancing open dialogue between Russia and the United States. Our meeting carries on a long tradition of diplomacy between Russia, the United States, for the greater good of all.
Donald Trump
00:17:46-00:18:16 (31 sec)No Signal (0.237)
And this was a very constructive day, this was a very constructive few hours that we spent together. It's in the interest of both of our countries to continue our conversation, and we have agreed to do so. I'm sure we'll be meeting again in the future often, and hopefully we will solve every one of the problems that we discussed today. So again, President Putin, thank you very much.
Question
00:18:30-00:19:10 (40 sec)No StressLens
[Via Interpreter] Good afternoon, my name is [Inaudible], Interfax Information Agency. I have a question to President Trump. During your recent European tour, you mentioned that implementation of the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline makes Europe a hostage of Russia, and you suggested that you could free Europe from this by supplying American LNG. But this cold winter actually showed that the current modal -- current mechanism of supply of fuel to Europe is quite viable.
Question
00:19:24-00:19:48 (24 sec)No StressLens
[Via Interpreter] Because there will be a gap formed in the supply-and-demand mechanism and the first is the consuming countries who will fall into this gap. And the second question, before the meeting with President Putin, you called him an adversary, a rival, and yet you expressed hope that you will be able to bring this relationship to a new level. Did you manage to do this?
Donald Trump
00:20:03-00:20:31 (28 sec)No Signal (0.056)
I'm not sure, necessarily, that it's in the best interests of Germany or not, but that was a decision that they made. We'll be competing -- as you know, the United States is now -- or soon will be, but I think it actually is right now the largest in the oil and gas world. So we're going to be selling LNG, and we'll have to be competing with the pipeline and I think will compete successfully, although there is a little advantage locationally.
Donald Trump
00:20:47-00:21:07 (20 sec)No Signal (0.029)
But we have lots of sources now and the United States is much different than it was a number of years ago when we weren't unable to extract what we could extract today. So today we're number one in the world at that, and I think we'll be out there competing very strongly. Thank you very much.
Vladimir Putin
00:21:15-00:21:44 (29 sec)No StressLens
[Via Interpreter] We are aware of the stance of President Trump, and I think that we, as a major oil and gas power, and the United States as a major oil and gas power as well, we could work together on regulation of international markets, because neither of us is actually interested in the plummeting of the prices. And the consumers will suffer as well, and the consumers in the United States will suffer as well.
Vladimir Putin
00:21:44-00:22:08 (25 sec)No StressLens
[Via Interpreter] And the shale gas production will suffer. Because beyond a sudden price breakup, it's no longer profitable to -- to produce gas. But nor we are interested in driving prices up, because it will drain just as -- just as from all other sectors of the economy, from [Inaudible] building, et cetera. So we do have space for cooperation here. That's the first thing.
Jeff Mason
00:22:48-00:23:11 (23 sec)No StressLens
Thank you. Mr. President, you tweeted this morning that it's U.S. foolishness, stupidity and the Mueller probe that is responsible for the decline in U.S. relations with Russia.Do you hold Russia at all accountable for anything in particular? And if so, what would you -- what would you consider them -- that they are responsible for?
Donald Trump
00:23:25-00:23:44 (19 sec)No Signal (0.767)
And I think we're all to blame. I think that the United States now has stepped forward along with Russia, and we're getting together and we have a chance to do some great things, whether it's nuclear proliferation in terms of stopping -- you have to do it, ultimately that's probably the most important thing that we could be working on.
Donald Trump
00:23:44-00:24:14 (29 sec)No Signal (0.186)
But I do feel that we have both made some mistakes. I think that the -- the probe is a disaster for our country. I think it's kept us apart, it's kept us separated. There was no collusion at all. Everybody knows it. And people are being brought out to the fore. So far that I know, virtually none of it related to the campaign. And they're going to have to try really hard to find somebody that did relate to the campaign.
Donald Trump
00:24:14-00:24:35 (21 sec)No Signal (0.481)
That was a clean campaign. I beat Hillary Clinton easily. And, frankly, we beat her -- and I'm not even saying from the standpoint -- we won that race. And it's a shame that there could even be a little bit of a cloud over it. People know that, people understand it. But the main thing -- and we discussed this also -- zero collusion.
Jeff Mason
00:24:52-00:25:12 (20 sec)No StressLens
For President Putin, if I could follow up as well, why should Americans and why should President Trump believe your statement that Russia did not intervene in the 2016 election, given the evidence that U.S. intelligence agencies have provided? And will you consider extraditing the 12 Russian officials that were indicted last week by a U.S. grand jury?
Donald Trump
00:25:12-00:25:36 (25 sec)No Signal (0.392)
Well, I'm going to let the President answer the second part of that question. But, as you know, the whole concept of that came up perhaps a little bit before, but it came out as a reason why the Democrats lost an election which, frankly, they should have been able to win, because the Electoral College is much more advantageous for Democrats, as you know, than it is to Republicans.
Donald Trump
00:25:36-00:26:06 (30 sec)No StressLens
We won the Electoral College by a lot: 306 to 223, I believe. And that was a well-fought -- that was a well-fought battle. We did a great job. And, frankly -- I'm going to let the President speak to the second part of your question -- but just to say it one time again -- and I say it all the time -- there was no collusion. I didn't know the President. There was nobody to collude with.
Donald Trump
00:26:18-00:26:46 (28 sec)No Signal (0.104)
But to the average reader out there, they're saying, "Well, maybe that does." It doesn't. And even the people involved, some, perhaps, told mis-stories. Or, in one case, the FBI said there was no lying. There was no lying. Somebody else said there was. We ran a brilliant campaign, and that's why I'm President. Thank you.
Vladimir Putin
00:26:46-00:27:06 (20 sec)No StressLens
[Via Interpreter] As to who is to be believed and to who's not to be believed, you can trust no one if you take this. Where did you get this idea that President Trump trusts me or I trust him? He defends the interests of the United States of America, and I do defend the interests of the Russian Federation.
Vladimir Putin
00:27:06-00:27:33 (27 sec)No StressLens
[Via Interpreter] We do have interests that are common. We are looking for points of contact. There are issues where our postures diverge, and we are looking for ways to reconcile our differences, how to make our effort more meaningful. We should not proceed from the immediate political interests that guide certain political powers in our countries. We should be guided by facts.
Vladimir Putin
00:27:33-00:27:57 (24 sec)No StressLens
[Via Interpreter] Could you name a single fact that would definitely prove the collusion? This is utter nonsense, just like the President recently mentioned. Yes, the public at large in the United States had a certain perceived opinion of the candidates during the campaign. But there's nothing particularly extraordinary about it.
Vladimir Putin
00:27:57-00:28:16 (19 sec)No StressLens
[Via Interpreter] That's the usual thing. President Trump, when he was a candidate, he mentioned the need to restore the Russia-U.S. relationship. And it's clear that certain parts of American society felt sympathetic about it, and different people could express their sympathies in different ways.
Vladimir Putin
00:28:16-00:28:43 (28 sec)No StressLens
[Via Interpreter] But isn't that natural? Isn't it natural to be sympathetic towards a person who is willing to restore the relationship with our country, who wants to work with us? We heard the accusations about a conquered country. Well, as far as I know, this company hired American lawyers and the accusations doesn't have a fighting change in the American courts. So there's no evidence when it comes to the actual facts.
Vladimir Putin
00:28:53-00:29:20 (27 sec)No StressLens
[Via Interpreter] I don't know the full extent of the situation, but President Trump mentioned this issue and I will look into it. So far, I can say the following things off the top of my head. We have enacting an existing agreement between the United States of America and the Russian Federation, an existing treaty that dates back to 1999.
Vladimir Putin
00:29:20-00:29:48 (28 sec)No StressLens
[Via Interpreter] The Mutual Assistance on Criminal Cases. This treaty is in full effect. It works quite efficiently. On average, we initiate about 100, 150 criminal cases upon request from foreign states. For instance, the last year there was one extradition case upon the request sent by the United States.
Vladimir Putin
00:30:06-00:30:31 (26 sec)No StressLens
[Via Interpreter] He can use this treaty as a solid foundation and send a formal -- an official request to us so that we would interrogate -- we want to hold a questioning of these individuals who he believes are privy to some crimes. And our law enforcement are perfectly able to do this questioning and send the appropriate materials to the United States.
Vladimir Putin
00:30:31-00:30:54 (23 sec)No StressLens
[Via Interpreter] Moreover, we can meet you halfway. We can make another step. We can actually permit official representatives of the United States, including the members of this very commission headed by Mr. Mueller -- we can let them into the country and they will be present at this questioning. But in this case, there is a -- there's another condition.
Vladimir Putin
00:30:54-00:31:26 (31 sec)No StressLens
[Via Interpreter] This kind of effort should be a mutual one. Then we would expect that the Americans would reciprocate, and that they would question officials, including the officers of law enforcement and intelligence service of the United States, whom we believe are -- who have something to do with illegal actions on the territory of Russia, and we have to -- to request the presence of our law enforcement.
Vladimir Putin
00:31:26-00:31:50 (24 sec)No StressLens
[Via Interpreter] For instance, we can bring up the Mr. Browder in this particular case. Business associates of Mr. Browder have earned over $1.5 billion in Russia. They never paid any taxes, neither in Russia nor in the United States, and yet the money escaped the country. They were transferred to the United States.
Vladimir Putin
00:31:50-00:32:07 (17 sec)No StressLens
[Via Interpreter] They sent huge amount of money, $400 million as a contribution to the campaign of Hillary Clinton. Well, that's the personal case. It might have been legal, the contribution itself, but the way the money was earned was illegal.
Vladimir Putin
00:32:07-00:32:30 (23 sec)No StressLens
[Via Interpreter] So we have a solid reason to believe that some intelligence officers accompanied and guided these transactions. So we have a -- an interest of questioning them. We can all -- that -- that could be a first step, and we can also extend it. Options abound, and they all can be found in an appropriate legal framework.
Ilya Petrenko
00:33:24-00:33:58 (34 sec)No StressLens
[Via Interpreter] And my question to President Putin in Russian. Since we -- we brought up the issue of football several times, I ask -- use the football language. Mr. Pompeo mentioned that when we talk about the Syrian cooperation, the ball is in the Syrian court. Mr. Putin -- in the Russian court -- is it true? And how would you use this fact, the -- the -- having the ball?
Donald Trump
00:33:58-00:34:25 (27 sec)No Signal (0.351)
Well, I guess I'll answer the first part of the question. We've worked with Israel long and hard for many years, many decades. I think we've never -- never has anyone, any country been closer than we are. President Putin also is helping Israel. And we both spoke with Bibi Netanyahu, and they would like to do certain things with respect to Syria, having to do with the safety of Israel.
Donald Trump
00:34:25-00:34:53 (28 sec)No Signal (0.324)
So in that respect, we absolutely would like to work in order to help Israel. And Israel would be working with us. So both countries would work jointly. And I think that when you look at all of the progress that's been made in certain sections, with the eradication of ISIS, we're about 98 percent, 99 percent there. And other things that have taken place that we've done, and that, frankly, Russia has helped us with in certain respects.
Donald Trump
00:34:53-00:35:19 (26 sec)No Signal (0.016)
But I think that working with Israel is a great thing. And creating safety for Israel is something that both President Putin and I would like to see very much. One little thing I might add to that is the helping of people. Helping of people. Because you have such horrible -- if you see -- and I've seen reports, I've seen pictures, I've seen just about everything.
Donald Trump
00:35:19-00:35:39 (20 sec)No Signal (0.559)
And if we can do something to help the people of Syria get back into some form of shelter, and -- on a humanitarian basis -- and that's what the word was, really, a humanitarian basis -- I think that both of us would be very interested in doing that. And we are. We will do that. O.K.? Thank you very much.
Donald Trump
00:35:45-00:36:04 (18 sec)No Signal (0.07)
Well, our militaries do get along. In fact, our militaries actually have gotten along probably better than our political leaders, for years. But our militaries do get along very well, and they do coordinate in Syria and other places. O.K.? Thank you.
Vladimir Putin
00:36:04-00:36:29 (26 sec)No StressLens
[Via Interpreter] Yes. We did mention this. We mentioned the humanitarian track of this issue. Yesterday, I discussed this with French President Mr. Macron. And we reached an agreement that, together with European countries including France, we will step up this effort. On our behalf, we provide military cargo aircraft to deliver the humanitarian cargo.
Vladimir Putin
00:36:29-00:36:49 (19 sec)No StressLens
[Via Interpreter] And today, I brought up this issue with President Trump. I think there is plenty of things to -- to look into. The crucial thing here is that a huge amount of refugees are in Turkey, in Lebanon, in Jordan, in the states that border -- are adjacent to Syria.
Vladimir Putin
00:36:49-00:37:12 (23 sec)No StressLens
[Via Interpreter] If we help -- help them, the migratory pressure upon the European states will drop -- will be decreased manyfold. And I believe it's crucial from any point of view, from humanitarian point of view, from the point of view of -- of helping people, helping the refugees and in general.
Vladimir Putin
00:37:12-00:37:31 (19 sec)No StressLens
[Via Interpreter] I agree, I concur with President Trump, our military cooperate quite successfully together. They do get along and I hope they will be able to do so in future. And we will keep working in the Astana format -- I mean Russia, Turkey and Iran, which I informed President Trump about.
Vladimir Putin
00:37:31-00:37:53 (22 sec)No StressLens
[Via Interpreter] But we do stand ready to link this effort through the so-called small group of states so that the process would be a broader one, it would be a multidimensional one, and so that we will be able to maximize our fighting chance to get the ultimate success in the issue of Syria.
Vladimir Putin
00:37:53-00:38:23 (30 sec)No StressLens
[Via Interpreter] And speaking about the -- having the ball in our court in Syria, President Trump has just mentioned that we've successfully completed the World Football Cup. Speaking of the football actually, Mr. President, I'll give this ball to you and now the ball is in your court. All the more that the United States will host the World Cup in 2026.
Jonathan Lemire
00:38:42-00:39:10 (28 sec)No StressLens
Thank you. A question for each President; President Trump, you first. Just now, President Putin denied having anything to do with the election interference in 2016. Every U.S. intelligence agency has concluded that Russia did. What -- who -- my first question for you, sir, is who do you believe?
Donald Trump
00:39:34-00:39:51 (17 sec)No Signal (0.36)
I've been wondering that, I've been asking that for months and months and I've been tweeting it out and calling it out on social media. Where is the server? I want to know where is the server and what is the server saying? With that being said, all I can do is ask the question.
Donald Trump
00:39:51-00:40:13 (22 sec)No Signal (0.207)
My people came to me, Dan Coats came to me and some others, they said they think it's Russia. I have President Putin; he just said it's not Russia. I will say this: I don't see any reason why it would be. But I really do want to see the server. But I have -- I have confidence in both parties.
Donald Trump
00:40:13-00:40:30 (16 sec)No Signal (0.145)
I -- I really believe that this will probably go on for a while, but I don't think it can go on without finding out what happened to the server. What happened to the servers of the Pakistani gentleman that worked on the D.N.C.? Where are those servers?
Donald Trump
00:40:46-00:41:10 (24 sec)No Signal (0.308)
So I have great confidence in my intelligence people, but I will tell you that President Putin was extremely strong and powerful in his denial today. And what he did is an incredible offer. He offered to have the people working on the case come and work with their investigators with respect to the 12 people. I think that's an incredible offer. O.K.? Thank you.
Vladimir Putin
00:41:29-00:42:03 (34 sec)No StressLens
[Via Interpreter] Now the second thing: I believe that Russia is a democratic state, and I hope you are not denying this right to your own country, you're not denying that United States is a democracy. Do you believe United States is a democracy? And if so, if it is a democratic state, then the final conclusion in this kind of a dispute can only be delivered by a trial, by the court, not by the executive, by the law enforcement.
Vladimir Putin
00:42:17-00:42:39 (22 sec)No StressLens
[Via Interpreter] And I brought several examples before. Well, you have a lot of individuals in the United States -- take George Soros, for instance -- with multibillion in capital, but does it make him -- his position, his posture the posture of the United States? No, it does not. Well, it's the same case.
Vladimir Putin
00:42:39-00:43:08 (29 sec)No StressLens
[Via Interpreter] There is the issue of trying a case in the court, and the final -- the -- the final say is for the court to deliver. We are now talking about the private -- the -- the individuals, not about particular states. And as far as the most recent allegation is concerned, about the Russian intelligence officers, we do have an intergovernmental treaty. Please do send us the request.
Vladimir Putin
00:43:08-00:43:31 (22 sec)No StressLens
[Via Interpreter] We will analyze it properly, and we'll send a formal response. And as I said, we can extend this cooperation, but we should do it on a reciprocal basis, because we would await our Russian counterparts to provide us access to the persons of interest for us who -- who we believe can have something to do with the intelligence services.
Jonathan Lemire
00:43:40-00:44:07 (26 sec)No StressLens
A question for President -- for President Putin. Thank you. Two questions for you, sir. Can you tell me what President Trump may have indicated to you about officially recognizing Crimea as part of Russia? And then secondly, sir, do you, does the Russian government have any compromising material on President Trump or his family? [Laughter]
Vladimir Putin
00:44:07-00:44:39 (32 sec)No StressLens
[Via Interpreter] President Trump and -- well, posture of President Trump on Crimea is well known, and he stands firmly by it. He continued to maintain that it was illegal to annex it. Our viewpoint is different. We held a referendum in strict compliance with the U.N. charter and the international legislation. For us, this issue -- we put paid to this issue.
Vladimir Putin
00:44:52-00:45:10 (18 sec)No StressLens
[Via Interpreter] Well, distinguished colleague, let me tell you this: When President Trump was at Moscow back then, I didn't even know that he was in Moscow. I treat President Trump with utmost respect, but back then when he was a private individual, a businessman, nobody informed me that he was in Moscow.
Vladimir Putin
00:45:23-00:45:41 (18 sec)No StressLens
[Via Interpreter] Well, do you remember -- do you think that we try to collect compromising material on each and every single one of them? Well, it's difficult to imagine an utter nonsense of a bigger scale than this. Well, please, just disregard these issues and don't think about this anymore again.
Donald Trump
00:45:41-00:46:11 (30 sec)Medium (1.532)
It would have been out long ago. And if anybody watched Peter Strzok testify over the last couple of days -- and I was in Brussels watching it -- it was a disgrace to the FBI, it was a disgrace to our country, and you would say that was a total witch hunt. Thank you very much, everybody. Thank you.