President Trump boasts that he's tougher on Russia than any other president. His administration has adopted some tough policies, even though Trump's rhetoric is almost always friendly toward Moscow.
The White House said it is negotiating with Moscow over President Trump's invitation for Vladimir Putin to visit. Director of National Intelligence Dan Coats was surprised.
Bill Browder, a critic of Russian President Putin, doubts he would ever be part of a swap that would give the U.S. access to 12 Russian intelligence agents — an idea floated by Putin on Monday.
Some Russian commentators and politicians rejoiced after Monday's meeting between the two leaders, with one columnist even calling it "another small miracle."
Monday's Trump-Putin summit was not a meeting between adversaries, writes Brookings Institution senior fellow Robert Kagan. It was a meeting between allies, with convergent interests and common goals.
Top Republicans voiced faith in U.S. intelligence, while some criticized Trump directly following his news conference. Top Democrats questioned whether Russia has damaging information on Trump.
The leaders held a stunning joint news conference after speaking privately for about two hours, just days after a grand jury indicted 12 Russian intelligence agents on election-related charges.
President Trump told CBS that he has "low expectations" ahead of a summit with Russia's Vladimir Putin, and added, "I think the European Union is a foe, what they do to us in trade."
Russia's president wants to normalize ties with the U.S., stop sanctions and give President Trump the impression he is the only Western leader who can get through to him.