Presidents Trump and Putin are taking the stage now for their joint press conference.
Putin: there is "no solid reason" for current U.S.–Russia tensions.
Putin briefly mentioned cybersecurity as one of several areas where the U.S. and Russia should work together.
Putin: “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 contact..."
"...that the Russian state has never interfered and is not going to interfere into internal American affairs, including the election process."
Putin on evidence of election meddling: “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.”
Trump says he and Putin discussed points of conflict "at length," but adds, "If we’re going to solve many of the problems facing our world, then we’re going to have to find ways to cooperate in pursuit of shared interests."
Trump: “Our relationship has never been worse than it is now. However, that changed as of about four hours ago. I really believe that.”
Trump: “During today’s meeting, I addressed directly with President Putin the issue of Russian interference in our elections. I felt this was a message best delivered in person. We spent a great deal of time talking about it."
Trump adds, cryptically: "President Putin may very well want to address it and very strongly, because he feels very strongly about it, and he has an interesting idea."
Trump: "I think that the probe is a disaster for our country. I think it’s kept us apart. It’s kept us separated."
Reuters' Jeff Mason asked Putin why Americans should believe him when he says Russian didn't meddle. Trump apparently thought the question was to him, so he's answering now, talking about the Electoral College.
Putin: "Could you name a single fact that would definitively prove the collusion? This is utter nonsense."
Putin: "There’s no evidence when it comes to the actual facts."
Putin on the 12 indicted hackers: "I don’t know the full extent of the situation, but President Trump mentioned this issue, and I will look into it." Says U.S. should use existing law enforcement cooperation framework to request their extradition.
Putin: Mueller should "send an official request to us so that we would interrogate, we would hold [for] questioning, these individuals who he believes are privy to some crimes."
Putin: "Our law enforcement are perfectly able to do this questioning and send the appropriate materials to the United States." Or, he says, Russia could invite Mueller's team to watch the questioning.
FYI, from someone who knows what he's talking about --->
Reporter: Do you believe Putin or the IC on meddling?
Trump: "You have groups that are wondering why the FBI never took the [DNC] server. Why haven’t they taken the server?"
Trump: "You have groups that are wondering why the FBI never took the [DNC] server. Why haven’t they taken the server?"
Trump: "Where is the server? I want to know, where is the server, and what is the server saying?"
Trump: “I don’t see any reason why it would be [Russia], but I really do want to see the server. But I have confidence in both parties.” Both parties meaning the IC and Putin.
Trump on Putin: “He offered to have the people working on the [Mueller] case come and work with their investigators with respect to the 12 people. I think that’s an incredible offer.”
Trump also mentioned the emails that Hillary Clinton deleted from her private server.
By the way, "the server" is in the DNC's basement, next to the filing cabinet from Watergate.
And the press conference is over. Trump ended it by calling Peter Strzok's congressional testimony a disgrace to the FBI.
