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US President Donald Trump and Russia's President Vladimir Putin shake hands during a meeting on the sidelines of the G20 Summit in Hamburg, Germany, on July 7. Picture: AFP
DONALD Trump held a secret meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin on the sidelines of the recent G20 summit in Germany, the White House has revealed.
After their highly visible, two-hour long formal meeting earlier on July 7, the pair reportedly engaged in a second undisclosed conversation in the shadows of a later dinner function.
National Security Council spokesman Michael Anton confirmed to CNN that the two world leaders had met privately.
“There was a couples-only social dinner at the G20,” he said. “Toward the end, the President spoke to Putin.”
The President was swift to condemn the media’s coverage of the meeting on his platform of choice, Twitter:
DELVE DEEPER: Untangling Trump’s ties to Russia
No staff or cabinet ministers were present, other than translators, Anton said.
Presidents Putin and Trump were initially seated at opposite ends of a long dining table. But they reportedly rose and moved into the wings for their discussion.
Anton said he was unable to disclose the substance of the conversation as no details had been provided to White House staff.
Russia's President Vladimir Putin and US First Lady Melania Trump talk during a formal banquet for participants of the G20 summit and their spouses. Picture: AFP/Kay NietfeldSource:AFP
The revelation comes as Congressional investigations continue into President Trump’s ties with Russia.
Senate Intelligence Committee Chairman Richard Burr confirmed that his panel will be investigating a 2016 meeting between top officials in the Trump campaign and several individuals with Russian ties.
President Donald Trump meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin at the G20 Summit in Hamburg. Picture: AP /Evan VucciSource:AP
Burr, a North Carolina Republican, referred to emails released by President Donald Trump’s eldest son, Donald Trump Jr, last week detailing discussions ahead of the meeting. In the emails, Trump Jr was told that a Russian lawyer attending the meeting had information damaging to Hillary Clinton.
Burr said Tuesday that “any intelligence out there that suggests somebody is of interest to us, we have to pursue it. ... You’ve now got an email chain that makes this a very important aspect to get into.”
In addition to Trump Jr., former Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort and Trump’s son-in-law, Jared Kushner, were also at the meeting.
It has also been revealed that the previously unnamed eighth participant at the meeting was an US employee of the Russian billionaire Agalarov family.
Ike Kaveladze attended as a representative for the Agalarovs to help translate at the meeting with Trump Jr, Russian lawyer Natalia Veselnitskaya and others, attorney Scott Balber told The Washington Post and CNN.