Trump, Putin G 20 meeting ‘good opportunity to clear the air’: Analyst

US President Donald Trump planned meeting with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin at the upcoming G20 summit in Germany is a “good opportunity” to improve ties, an investigative journalist in Washington says.

“I believe that this is a good opportunity for the American president and the Russian president to clear the air on a lot of issues,” said Wayne Madsen, an author and columnist specializing in intelligence and international affairs.

“I would hope that Putin and Trump would discuss how the Trump administration is totally beholding the same enemies that Russia has,” Madsen said during a phone interview with Press TV on Monday.

“[But] If Trump resorts to theatrics then this won’t be an effective meeting between him and the Russian president,” he added.

The White House has confirmed that Trump will meet with Putin at the G20 summit next week, seeking "a more constructive relationship” with Moscow.

National Security Adviser H.R. McMaster said the high-stakes meeting with the Russian president will be one of several scheduled for Trump when he travels to Hamburg, Germany, for the summit taking place on July 7 and 8.

The planned meeting comes as investigations continue into possible collusion between members of Trump’s presidential campaign and Russian officials during last year’s presidential race.

Both Trump and Putin have rejected the accusations.

McMaster refused to say whether the subject of the alleged Russian meddling might be discussed when Trump meets with Putin.

Relations between Moscow and Washington are being described as at their worst since the Cold War.

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