Trump seeks closer ties with Russia in rare White House meeting
WASHINGTON — All but ignoring the unfurling drama over Russia and the U.S. election, President Trump on Wednesday sought to advance prospects for cooperation between the former Cold War foes in Syria and elsewhere in a rare Oval Office meeting with Vladimir Putin’s top diplomat.
Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov’s talks with Trump were already destined to be a closely watched affair, given the dire state of U.S.-Russian relations and diplomatic wrangling going on over a Moscow-backed deal to stabilize Syria.
Yet Trump’s stunning decision on the eve of the meeting to fire the FBI director overseeing a Russia-related investigation injected further intrigue into Lavrov’s first visit to Washington since 2013.
The last time Lavrov visited the American capital was before Russia annexed Crimea from Ukraine and intervened militarily in Syria to help President Bashar Assad — actions that fueled U.S.-Russian tensions.
The Russian diplomat steadfastly refused to weigh in on Trump’s decision to fire James Comey, the former FBI director, who had been overseeing investigations of alleged Russian interference in the U.S. election and possible collusion by Trump’s campaign.
Russia’s Foreign Ministry tweeted a photo of Trump shaking hands with Lavrov, and the Russian Embassy posted another of the president greeting another participant in the meeting: