Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Wednesday that U.S. President Donald Trump had not passed any secrets onto Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov during a meeting in Washington last week and that he could prove it.
Speaking at a news conference alongside Italian Prime Minister Paolo Gentiloni, Putin quipped that Lavrov had not passed what he said were the non-existent secrets onto him either.
Putin said Russia was ready to hand a transcript of Trump's meeting with Lavrov over to U.S. lawmakers if that would help reassure them.
Two U.S. officials said on Monday that Trump had disclosed highly classified information to Lavrov about a planned Islamic State operation, plunging the White House into another controversy just months into Trump's short tenure in office. (Reporting by Denis Pinchuk/Jack Stubs/Maria Tsvetkova; Editing by Andrew Osborn)
#1: Tooconservative To: cranky (#0)
Putin was making jokes at our expense for the Italian media. They were all yukking it up.
Putin got such quick laughs that he started trying to scold Lavrov for not sharing America's secrets with him.
Tooconservative posted on 2017-05-17 15:34:25 Reply Private Reply
#2: cranky To: Tooconservative (#1)
But a Kremlin aide, Yuri Ushakov, later told reporters that Moscow had in its possession a written record of the conversation
cranky posted on 2017-05-17 17:12:33 Reply Private Reply
#3: A Pole To: cranky (#2)
I am sure they taped it. (they had recording devices in their pockets just in case)
A Pole posted on 2017-05-17 17:53:12 Reply Private Reply
#4: cranky To: A Pole (#3)
It would be hilarious if such a tape existed.
cranky posted on 2017-05-17 18:00:22 Reply Private Reply
#5: A Pole To: cranky (#4)
Both sides were taping it. Otherwise they would be naive fools.
A Pole posted on 2017-05-17 18:38:27 Reply Private Reply
#6: cranky To: A Pole (#5)
Not scanning visitors for any untoward devices would be remarkable.
cranky posted on 2017-05-17 19:10:36 Reply Private Reply
#7: A Pole To: cranky (#6)
You do not scan so high level people. Just you don't, and if they want to record anything they do.
The hosts put recording devices in the walls, guests keep it in their pockets or briefcases.
A Pole posted on 2017-05-17 19:28:56 Reply Private Reply
#8: cranky To: A Pole (#7)
I don't believe that for a minute.
Anybody that walks through a doorway can be scanned and never know it.
cranky posted on 2017-05-17 19:35:28 Reply Private Reply
#9: U don't know me To: cranky (#0)
Don't these people have any names?
U don't know me posted on 2017-05-17 20:05:43 Reply Private Reply
#10: cranky To: U don't know me (#9)
Anonymous sources are the bestest sources.
cranky posted on 2017-05-17 20:15:00 Reply Private Reply
#11: A Pole To: cranky (#8)
Yeah, and they will know for sure what they knew before.
And what can you do with the president of other country? Give him TSA treatment, taser him?
A Pole posted on 2017-05-18 05:41:49 Reply Private Reply
#12: A Pole To: U don't know me (#9)
How did you find out about this?
A little bird told me.
What's the name of your little bird?
It doesn't have a name.
Those fucking anonymous ones!
A Pole posted on 2017-05-18 05:58:23 Reply Private Reply
#13: cranky To: A Pole (#11)
Cancel or reschedule the meeting comes to mind.
A sudden illness, perhaps.
Or a touch of food poisoning.
It's happened before.
cranky posted on 2017-05-18 07:40:12 Reply Private Reply
#14: A Pole To: cranky (#13)
Do you want US President to be poisoned during his foreign visits?! Because he might want to have his conversations recorded?
Really?
A Pole posted on 2017-05-18 07:45:39 Reply Private Reply
#15: cranky To: A Pole (#14)
No.
"Cancel or reschedule the meeting comes to mind.", "A sudden illness, perhaps.", "Or a touch of food poisoning." were listed as excuses for cancelling or rescheduling a meeting until all recording devices were removed.
Sorry for the confusion.
cranky posted on 2017-05-18 08:38:51 Reply Private Reply
#16: A Pole To: cranky (#15)
A nonsence. In such high level meetings any side might REQUEST a recording and transcript.
Either way, the hosts cannot be checked for listening devices. You see, a serious meeting between equal sides is different from admission to prison.
A Pole posted on 2017-05-18 09:47:52 Reply Private Reply
#17: cranky To: A Pole (#16)
If the meeting was convened in an area under control of the person who called the meeting, that might be true.
But if any side might request a recording or transcript then it logically follows any side might request proof that no records of the meeting be made.
cranky posted on 2017-05-18 11:30:18 Reply Private Reply
#18: A Pole To: cranky (#17)
You cannot prove the negative.
But if such secrecy is required, the safest course is not to meet at all.
I wonder about so great secrets - calling codes to alliens? technology to make black holes? lunch menu of the glorious leader?
A Pole posted on 2017-05-18 11:57:34 Reply Private Reply