Thread by @MSuchkov_ALM

This is my THREAD on #HelsinkiSummit where I'll report/analyze all coming & subsequent developements from #Russia's POV:
1. Here's my take on #Putin-#Trump encounter for @ispionline where I argue the summit may have high hopes, but modest expectations
ispionline.it/it/pubblicazio…

2. This is what #Putin heads into #HelsinkiSummit with in terms of #Syria, #Iran: almon.co/32y5

3. #Putin & #Trump will be meet face-to-face around noon (1pm #Moscow time). The leaders have at least 3 hours scheduled for themselves after which they will proceed to another room for working lunch in a broader format with ministers and advisers.

4. As the face-to-face meeting b/n #Putin,@realDonaldTrump kickstarts in less than hour #Kremlin spox Peskov says discussions between the two on #Syria would be difficult because of #US stance on #Iran.

5. #Kremlin spox also says #Trump's criticism of #Russia’s Nord Stream-2 gas pipeline to Europe is "an egregious example of unscrupulous competition which worries #Moscow",he adds #Russia nonetheless hopes #HelsinkiSummit wld represent some step away frm current crisis in rels

6. #Russia/n trolling for #HelsinkiSummit
An episode from a #Rus cartoon placed in contemporary political context. Caption says "Abraham Lincoln [travels back in time] to warn young #Trump of staying wary of #Putin"

7.#Putin has landed in #Helsinki a few minutes ago, is heading to the meeting with @realDonaldTrump

#Putin in #Helsinki & en route to meet @realDonaldTrump

8.The stage is set. The Gothic Hall in the Finnish Presidential Palace is where #Putin, @realDonaldTrump will spend at least 3 hours face-to-face as scheduled.

Here they are

CORRECTION: #Putin, #Trump will have 1.5 hours tete-a-tete, the rest together with teams.

9. #Putin, #Trump started a closed session.
Meanwhile #Russia's FM Lavrov and #US @SecPompeo hold their separate closed meeting, their first such encounter.

#Putin's motorcade in #Helsinki

#Trump to #Putin: "We'll be talking about #China quite a bit, our mutual friend Xi."

#Trump to #Putin: "We haven't been getting along for the last number of years. I been here not too long. But I think we'll end up having an extraordinary relationship."

#Putin uses his brand new #Russia-made limo for the first time in his foreign trip.

For now it appears that conceptually #Trump has come for #HelsinkiSummit2018 with zero interest for #Syria."#Russia inteference",arms control, #Ukraine,etc, but w/ a focus on getting #Moscow on board against #China.
So if there were 2B a "grand deal",for #US it's tied to Beijing

The bilateral talks are over and #Putin, @realDonaldTrump now joined by their respective teams for the working lunch (you can see who's present)

Given that questions from #Putin's press pool are most likely coordinated w/ #Kremlin beforehand, the frill w/ question on whose side the ball is & passing that ball to #Trump was perfect move from #Putin.