Trump and Putin are meeting on the eve of the anniversary of MH17 being shot down by Russia


President Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin's Helsinki summit was chosen to fall on a day when Trump would already be in Europe and Putin would be free from his World Cup final obligations in Moscow. The day that was picked, though — July 16 — is the day before the anniversary of a Malaysia Airlines flight being shot down over eastern Ukraine on July 17, 2014.
European investigators announced this spring that a Russia-based unit downed MH17, killing all 298 people on board, although Russia has denied the charges and Kremlin-linked publications have claimed without plausibility that Ukraine shot the plane down. Russia used its veto power in the United Nations to prevent an international tribunal from assembling to prosecute whoever was found responsible for the tragedy.
Trump has been criticized for his unwillingness to speak out against Russian aggression; while his staff has condemned Russia's annexation of Ukraine, and Trump himself slammed former President Barack Obama for being too soft in his response, Trump has also reportedly repeated Putin's talking points to other world leaders in defense.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Trump and Putin are set to talk about national security concerns as well as U.S.-Russia relations. It is unclear if Ukraine, or the MH17 disaster, will be discussed.
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Jeva Lange was the executive editor at TheWeek.com. She formerly served as The Week's deputy editor and culture critic. She is also a contributor to Screen Slate, and her writing has appeared in The New York Daily News, The Awl, Vice, and Gothamist, among other publications. Jeva lives in New York City. Follow her on Twitter.
-
5 hilariously cutting cartoons about the Department of Education
Cartoons Artists take on being rotten to the core, budget cuts, and more
-
Kartoffelsalat (potato salad) recipe
The Week Recommends German dish is fresh, creamy and an ideal summer meal
-
Sickness benefits: an unaffordable burden?
Talking Point A welfare bill 'debacle' caused by 'sickfluencers' who are beating the system
-
President diagnosed with 'chronic venous insufficiency'
Speed Read The vein disorder has given Trump swollen ankles and visible bruising on his hands
-
'Bawdy' Trump letter supercharges Epstein scandal
Speed Read The Wall Street Journal published details of Trump's alleged birthday letter to Epstein
-
Fed chair Powell in Trump's firing line
Speed Read The president considers removing Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell
-
Trump trashes supporters over Epstein files
speed read The president lashed out on social media following criticism of his administration's Jeffrey Epstein investigation
-
Judge nixes wiping medical debt from credit checks
Speed Read Medical debt can now be included in credit reports
-
Grijalva wins Democratic special primary for Arizona
Speed Read She will go up against Republican nominee Daniel Butierez to fill the US House seat her father held until his death earlier this year
-
US inflation jumps as Trump tariffs 'bite'
Speed Read Consumer prices are climbing and the inflation rate rose to its highest level in four months
-
SCOTUS greenlights mass DOE firings
Speed Read The Supreme Court will allow the Trump administration to further shrink the Education Department