Pompeo tells Russia: Don't meddle in next US presidential election

SUMMARY

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo told Russia on Tuesday that Washington would brook no interference in the 2020 US presidential election and wanted Moscow to take action to show there would be no repeat of its suspected 2016 meddling. President Vladimir Putin, who met Pompeo in the Russian Black Sea resort of Sochi, pushed back, telling him that Russia never interfered in US elections and that a report by US Special Counsel Robert Mueller, which he praised as being "objective overall", had found no evidence of collusion with President Donald Trump’s 2016 campaign. Relations have long been strained by US intelligence and law enforcement findings - denied by Moscow - that Russia tried to influence the results of the 2016 US presidential election to boost Trump's chances of winning the White House. Pompeo's visit followed the publication of the long-awaited report by Mueller into the nature of Russia's role in that election that spoke of "sweeping and systematic" interference by Moscow but did not establish that members of Trump’s campaign conspired with Russia during the 2016 election. Now that the Mueller report was out of the way, Putin said he hoped ties would start improving. Visiting Russia for the first time as secretary of state, Pompeo earlier clashed with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on issues from Ukraine to Venezuela. After their meeting, both men said they had been far apart on many issues.

By ReutersMay 15, 2019 8:29:34 AM IST (Published)

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov shake hands as they pose for a photo prior to their talks in the Black Sea resort city of Sochi, Russia, May 14, 2019. (Reuters)

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo smiles as he and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov enter a hall for their talks in the Black Sea resort city of Sochi, Russia, May 14, 2019. (Reuters)

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo speaks to Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov during their talks in the Black Sea resort city of Sochi, Russia, May 14, 2019. (Reuters)

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and U.S. Ambassador to Russia Jon Huntsman listen to Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov during their talks in the Black Sea resort city of Sochi, Russia, May 14, 2019. (Reuters)

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov welcomes US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo for the talks in the Black Sea resort city of Sochi, Russia, (Reuters)

U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov shake hands after their joint news conference following the talks in the Black Sea resort city of Sochi, Russia May 14, 2019. Pavel Golovkin/Pool via REUTERS

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov leave after their joint news conference following the talks in the Black Sea resort city of Sochi, Russia May 14, 2019. (Reuters)