Russia slams proposal to question Trump summit translator

In this July 16, 2018 file photo interpreter Marina Gross (left) takes notes when US President Donald Trump talks to Russian President Vladimir Putin at the beginning of their one-on-one-meeting at the Presidential Palace in Helsinki, Finland on July 16, 2018. AP

MOSCOW  — Russian politicians are rallying behind Vladimir Putin and denouncing American suggestions that the translator at his meeting with US President Donald Trump be interrogated about what they discussed privately.

Russia’s ambassador to the US, Anatoly Antonov, expressed hope Thursday that “the verbal agreements between Putin and Trump will be fulfilled.” Russian officials worry that domestic turmoil in the US will hamper potential future cooperation on Syria or arms control discussed at the summit.

Russian officials have shrugged off Trump’s wildly contradictory accounts of what he said to Putin at Monday’s summit.

They are angry however at proposals by US lawmakers to question Trump’s translator. Konstantin Kosachev, head of the upper house of parliament’s foreign affairs committee, said Thursday the idea sets a dangerous precedent that threats the “the whole idea of diplomacy,” according to Russian news agencies. /ee