US President faces criticism for conceding Putin’s “election meddling” remark
In a major development in the international political arena President of US Donald Trump and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin have committed for improving relations between the two major countries, with Putin saying there was no longer any reason for tensions between their countries.
However, media in both the countries indicate that Trump has lost the battle against Russia while US political circle call it a bad performance by their president in Helsinki.
The two leaders met in the Finnish capital Helsinki on Monday to talk about “everything from trade to military to missiles to China”.
“There are no objective reasons for difficulties [between Russia and the US]. The Cold War is a thing of the past, the situation in the world has drastically changed,” said Putin.
Earlier, US President Donald Trump blamed his country’s past “foolishness and stupidity” for the two powers’ hostile relations.
At a press conference following the summit, Trump praised their “direct, open and deeply productive dialogue” and emphasised the need for continued diplomacy over confrontation. “A productive dialogue is not only good for the United States and good for Russia, but it is good for the world,” he said.
“Our relationship has never been worse than it is now, however that changed as of about four hours ago… To refuse to engage would not accomplish anything.”
Putin said the two countries would need to work together to cope with challenges such as terrorism, international crime, the economy and the environment, while pointing to counterterrorism and cyber security as areas in which they are already doing so.
“As major nuclear powers, we bear special responsibility for maintaining international security,” he said.
Putin said the US and Russia could collaborate to “establish peace and reconciliation” in Syria, with Trump adding by working together to end the conflict, the US and Russia could “save hundreds of thousands of lives”.
The two leaders also committed to securing Israel’s border with Syria in accordance with the 1974 Agreement on Disengagement between Israel and Syria.
However, quick scanning of Russian and American media indicates that Trump has won while US has lost during the Helsinki summit. Russian media has been appreciative of Putin’s moves while US media and political leaders have started criticizing Trump of being “caved” under Putin’s prowess.
The Moscow Times published its lead story “Trump says ‘No reason to believe’ Russia hacked US election” with a hand-shake picture depicting Putin scaring into Trump’s eyes, give lots of score in favour of Putin.
The story intro say, “US President Donald Trump said on Monday he saw no reason to believe Russia had hacked the 2016 US presidential election to help him win, and Vladimir Putin “was extremely strong and powerful in his denial today.”
Moscow Times further reports, “At a rambling news conference after a one-on-one meeting with the Russian president, Trump said not a single critical word about Russia on any of the issues that have brought relations between the Washington and Moscow to a post-Cold War low.”
The Russian daily said, “Asked if he trusted U.S. intelligence agencies which concluded that Russia interfered in the 2016 election, he said he had been told by his CIA chief that it was Russia, but that he saw no reason to believe it.”
However, one of the several tweets Donald Trump posted during transatlantic flight taking him to Washington, his words seemed changed:
As I said today and many times before, “I have GREAT confidence in MY intelligence people.” However, I also recognize that in order to build a brighter future, we cannot exclusively focus on the past – as the world’s two largest nuclear powers, we must get along! #HELSINKI2018
Russian official TASS news agency report says, “Russian President Vladimir Putin has called his summit talks with US President Donald Trump the first move towards “clearing the backlog” of problems in relations between the two countries.
It quoted Putin saying, “Of course, numerous problems persist, and we have failed to clear the backlog in full, it was impossible to do this, but I believe we have made the first important step in that direction.”
Putin said, “The talks with President of the United States Mr. Donald Trump were held in a frank, business-like atmosphere,” he said. “I view them as successful and useful.”
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On the other hand CNN reports that after President Donald Trump’s stunning news conference with Russian President Vladimir Putin, members of Congress including some powerful Republicans were quick to rebuke Trump’s performance on the world stage and Trump’s refusal to call Putin out for interfering in the US election.
House Speaker Paul Ryan, a Republican from Wisconsin, contradicted several comments Trump made during his Helsinki news conference, most notably backing the US intelligence community assessment that Russia meddled with the US 2016 presidential election.
Ryan said, “There is no question that Russia interfered in our election and continues attempts to undermine democracy here and around the world. That is not just the finding of the American intelligence community but also the House Committee on Intelligence.”
He continued, “The president must appreciate that Russia is not our ally. There is no moral equivalence between the United States and Russia, which remains hostile to our most basic values and ideals. The United States must be focused on holding Russia accountable and putting an end to its vile attacks on democracy.”
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell spoke briefly with reporters Monday, giving his support to the US intelligence community.
Former Vice President John McCain, a Republican senator from Arizona, who has consistently criticized the President, said Trump’s comments were “one of the most disgraceful performances by an American president in memory.”
Senate Foreign Relations Chairman Bob Corker said the President “made us look like a pushover” and that Putin was probably eating caviar on the plane home.
“I was very disappointed and saddened with the equivalency that he gave between them (the US intelligence agencies) and what Putin was saying,” said Corker.
Several Republicans in both the houses, even some typically seen as allies of the President, said, in the hours following the Helsinki press conference, that they were concerned over what they heard on Monday.
Senator Tim Scott, a South Carolina Republican, Liz Cheney, a Wyoming Republican, Trey Gowdy, a South Carolina Republican, Senator Susan Collins, Maine Republican and many more spoke against Trump’s performance during the summit.
“I am confident former CIA Director and current Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, DNI Dan Coats, Ambassador Nikki Haley, FBI Director Chris Wray, Attorney General Jeff Sessions and others will be able to communicate to the President it is possible to conclude Russia interfered with our election in 2016 without delegitimizing his electoral success,” Gowdy said in a statement.
Meanwhile, New York Times report said,“For nearly two years, Republicans have watched uncomfortably, and often in silence, as President Trump has swatted away accusations that Russia interfered in the 2016 presidential race, attacked his own intelligence agencies and flattered President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia.”
Stephen Collinson, a CNN analyst writes, “For as long as history remembers Donald Trump, it will be a day that will live in infamy.” He further said, “The President’s summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Helsinki on Monday is already one of the most notorious moments in the tortured relations between Washington and Moscow.”
At one point, Collinson writes, “It was his hubris and desire to be unchained from his staff that led him to meet Putin alone for nearly two hours in Helsinki — fueling rumours that he is under the Russian leader’s spell.”
A January 2017 assessment bby theoffice of the Director of National Intelligence (CDN) stated that Russian leadership favored presidential candidate Donald Trump over Hillary Clinton, and that Russian president Vladimir Putin personally ordered an “influence campaign” to harm Clinton’s electoral chances and “undermine public faith in the US democratic process”.
Fire near Dubai International Airport after drone incident, flights temporarily suspended
Flights at Dubai International Airport were temporarily suspended after a drone-related incident caused a fuel tank fire near the facility. Authorities confirmed the blaze was contained and no injuries were reported.
A fire broke out near Dubai International Airport on Monday after a drone-related incident struck a fuel tank in the surrounding area, prompting authorities to suspend flights temporarily while emergency teams responded.
Officials said crews from Dubai Civil Defence were quickly deployed to control the blaze after the incident was reported near the airport. Authorities confirmed that no injuries were recorded and that safety protocols were immediately activated in the surrounding area.
The Dubai Media Office said in a post on X that a drone incident near the airport had affected one of the fuel tanks. Emergency teams moved rapidly to bring the fire under control.
Later, officials confirmed that the situation had been contained. According to authorities, civil defence teams successfully controlled the fire resulting from the impact on the fuel facility, and there were no casualties.
Authorities said response teams acted quickly while precautionary safety measures were implemented to safeguard residents, workers and airport operations in the area.
Flights temporarily suspended as precaution
Following the incident, the Dubai Civil Aviation Authority announced a temporary suspension of flights at Dubai International Airport to ensure passenger and staff safety.
Travellers were advised to contact their respective airlines for updated flight schedules as authorities assessed the situation and continued response operations.
Airport officials also confirmed that some flights were diverted to Al Maktoum International Airport during the temporary suspension.
Rising security concerns amid regional conflict
The incident comes amid heightened tensions in the region. Officials said Iran has fired more than 1,800 missiles and drones toward the United Arab Emirates since the start of the ongoing Middle East conflict.
Authorities said the UAE has become one of the most targeted countries during the escalation, though most projectiles have reportedly been intercepted by air defence systems.
The strikes have targeted both military and civilian infrastructure, including airports, ports and oil facilities across the Gulf after US-Israeli strikes reportedly hit Iranian leadership targets.
Meanwhile, the UAE’s defence ministry has reported six deaths linked to the conflict so far — four civilians and two military personnel. Officials said the soldiers died in a helicopter crash caused by a technical issue.
A building in the financial district of Dubai was struck by debris from an intercepted aerial attack on Friday, marking the second such incident reported in less than 24 hours as tensions continue during the ongoing conflict involving the United States, Israel and Iran.
Authorities confirmed that debris from a successful interception hit the façade of a building in central Dubai. According to an official statement shared by the Dubai Media Office on social media platform X, the situation was quickly brought under control. Officials also said there was no fire and no injuries reported in the incident.
Witnesses described hearing a powerful blast in the area around the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC), one of the emirate’s busiest financial hubs. A resident living nearby told media that the sound was the loudest they had ever heard and initially feared something catastrophic had happened.
Another correspondent reported hearing a massive double explosion that shook surrounding buildings and left a cloud of black smoke hanging over the district for some time before the situation stabilised.
Drone hits US embassy complex in Baghdad
In a separate development, a drone struck the United States Embassy Baghdad in Baghdad, according to Iraqi security officials. Media present near the area reported seeing smoke rising from inside the diplomatic compound after the strike.
Security sources confirmed that the drone attack directly targeted the embassy complex. Details about damage or casualties were not immediately available.
The attack occurred shortly after two strikes targeted positions linked to the Iran-backed group Kataeb Hezbollah. Security officials said the strikes killed two members of the group, including what was described as a key figure.
According to one security source, a missile hit a house used by the group at around 2:15 am local time. The source added that the strike resulted in the death of a senior member, while two others were wounded.
The incidents in Dubai and Baghdad come as the wider regional conflict involving the United States, Israel and Iran continues to escalate into its 15th day, raising concerns about the spread of hostilities across the Middle East.
US KC-135 refuelling aircraft crashes in Iraq amid ongoing Iran war
A US KC-135 refuelling aircraft crashed in western Iraq during the ongoing Iran war, marking the fourth American aircraft lost in the conflict, according to the US military.
The United States military has confirmed that one of its aerial refuelling aircraft crashed in western Iraq, marking the fourth American aircraft lost since the start of the current conflict involving Iran.
According to a statement issued by United States Central Command (CENTCOM), the incident involved a Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker. The military said one aircraft went down in western Iraq, while another aircraft linked to the situation was able to land safely.
CENTCOM clarified that the crash was not the result of hostile fire or friendly fire, though details about the cause of the incident have not yet been disclosed.
Fourth US aircraft lost in the conflict
The crash makes the KC-135 the fourth American military aircraft lost since the beginning of the war in the Middle East, which started on February 28.
Earlier in the conflict, three McDonnell Douglas F-15E Strike Eagle fighter jets were mistakenly shot down by forces from Kuwait in what the US military described as friendly fire. Despite the loss of the aircraft, all six crew members from those jets managed to eject safely.
CENTCOM had earlier said the incident happened during intense combat operations that included attacks from Iranian aircraft as well as ballistic missiles and drones.
KC-135 aircraft and crew details
The KC-135 aerial refuelling aircraft has been in service for more than six decades and plays a key role in extending the range and endurance of US military aircraft during operations.
Typically, the aircraft operates with a three-member crew, consisting of a pilot, a co-pilot and a boom operator responsible for refuelling other aircraft mid-air. However, certain missions may require a navigator, and the aircraft can carry up to 37 passengers, according to information provided by the US Air Force.
Authorities have not yet released information about the crew involved in the latest crash or whether there were casualties.
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