Trump meets with EU leaders as Russia proves stumbling block
US President Donald Trump met with several European leaders in Brussels on Thursday as a NATO summit got underway in the Belgian capital.
On the fourth part of an overseas trip for Trump, which has already seen him make visits to the likes of Saudi Arabia and Israel, the Republican met with European Council President Donald Tusk and European Commission chief Jean-Claude Juncker to discuss a variety of issues.
Among those discussed was Western relations with Vladimir Putin's Russia, which have been tense due to the ongoing conflict in Syria and repeated allegations of the Kremlin meddling in last year’s US presidential election.
Trump spoke with newly-elected French president Emmanuel Macron for the first time
Tusk told media following the meeting that both the EU and the US had common ground, but how to deal with Russia was more problematic.
"Some issues remained open, like climate and trade," Tusk said. "And I am not 100 percent sure that we can say today — 'we' means Mr. President and myself — that we have a common position, common opinion, about Russia," he added.
According to The Guardian, Trump told those present at the meeting that he was concerned that Britain’s departure from the bloc would lead to job losses in the US. Trump had previously voiced his support for Brexit during last year’s referendum campaign.
Meanwhile, Trump spoke with newly-elected French president Emmanuel Macron for the first time in an uncomfortable exchange in which the two struggled through a handshake in front of the cameras.
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— Vocal Europe (@thevocaleurope) May 25, 2017
Trump - Macron 's very long handshakepic.twitter.com/DjHnbxwVZD