PARIS — Russian President Vladimir Putin flashed President Trump a thumbs up after the men shook hands at a ceremony marking the centennial of World War I’s end.
The interaction near the Arc de Triomphe ceremonies is believed to be the first between the men this weekend, ahead of a multinational lunch that both will attend.
Trump and Putin were supposed to have a second substantive meeting this weekend in Paris, but plans for a high-profile summit were abandoned in an apparent nod to French President Emmanuel Macron, who feared it would distract from his elaborate ceremonies.
Putin, arriving after Trump to the weekend’s primary commemoration ceremony around 11 a.m. Sunday, shook Trump’s hand while walking past him.
After getting a thumbs up from Putin, a staple of the American president’s own body language, Trump patted the Russian leader on the back.
Путин и Трамп в Париже: Та самая встреча «на полях» pic.twitter.com/eABQYblWRO
— Дмитрий Смирнов (@dimsmirnov175) November 11, 2018
Some experts believe that Trump and Putin may still have talks on Sunday, despite public disavowals from Trump, who said they will instead have in-depth discussions at the G-20 summit in Argentina later this year.
Although original plans to meet in Paris were scrapped, Trump injected acrimony into their once-close relationship, tweeting Friday night that had Macron made “very insulting” remarks about needing a European military. Trump and Macron met in person Saturday and greeted each other warmly, despite the tweet.
