The White House acknowledged last month that President Trump did have an informal conversation with Vladimir Putin at the G20 in Buenos Aires in late November, but now The Financial Times* reports the two men met without a U.S. translator, note-taker, or even administration aide present.
Trump was joined by his wife Melania Trump, but there was no note-taker or translator from the U.S. at the meeting. Putin was reportedly accompanied by a translator, with all four at a table.
A Russian government official told the Financial Times that the talk lasted about 15 minutes and included discussions about the Syrian conflict and a clash days earlier between Russian forces and the Ukrainian navy. Trump and Putin also talked about the potential for a formal meeting, the official said.
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Trump was slated to meet formally with Putin at the G-20 summit, but scrapped those plans as he took off for Argentina, citing Moscow's military tensions with Ukraine at the time.
Days before the summit, Ukraine said Russia fired on some of its ships in the Kerch Strait near Crimea, hitting two vessels and injuring two crew members. Russia then seized both ships and a tugboat, Ukraine said.
Russia annexed Crimea from Ukraine in 2014, prompting significant international backlash and sanctions against Moscow.
Trump sat down with Putin at G20 without US note-taker (FT) *subscription required
Trump, Putin talked at G20 without US translator, note-taker: report (The Hill)
White House: Trump had 'informal' conversation with Putin at G-20 (The Hill)