© Reuters / Leonhard Foegler
Talking to journalists on Thursday, Vladimir Putin said that his recent talk with the American leader 'inspired certain optimism.'
Donald...understands how much the United States and other countries spend on armaments. This money could be diverted to other purposes. I fully agree with him.While noting that global security depends largely on negotiations between the US and Russia, Putin encouraged other nuclear states to join the discussion. Such broad talks could become "the light at the end of the tunnel," the Russian president concluded.
The Russian and US presidents talked on a phone in early May. In a subsequent tweet, Trump said it was a "long and very good conversation" adding that "getting along" with Russia is a "good thing."
The latest face-to-face talks between Putin and Trump occurred in Helsinki last summer. The leaders were supposed to meet on the sidelines of the November G20 summit in Buenos Aires, but the US side canceled the appointment over the Russian-Ukrainian standoff in Kerch Strait.
Reader Comments
Diverting trillions from arms trade's shareholders would diminish their voice in national affairs. Even begging congressmen might recall their duty. And it would give America a chance to rehabilitate its infrastructure - roads, tunnels, bridges, ports, health and welfare - and restore competitiveness to real trade not just money movements.