First official bilateral meeting between Trump and Putin

HELSINKI, (Patria) - US and Russian Presidents Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin will hold their first official bilateral meeting in Helsinki.

The meeting between Putin and Trump will be held at the presidential palace, in the Finnish capital Helsinki, starting at 1 PM.

During the meeting, the presidents will discuss alleged Russian interference in US elections, the wars in Syria and Ukraine, and nuclear arms control, world media reported.

Trump stated that he has "no great expectations" from the meeting, but that a positive outcome is possible.

- I think it's good that we are meeting. Nothing bad can come of it, and maybe something good will happen - Trump said.

Before the meeting, the two presidents will have bilateral talks with Finnish President Sauli Niinistö.

Before the meeting between Putin and Trump, the US and Russian Foreign Ministers Mike Pompeo and Sergey Lavrov will meet.

German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas warned Trump not to make any unilateral agreements with Russia that would be detrimental to the US's Western allies.

Yesterday, more than 1,500 people protested against the meeting between Trump and Putin in Helsinki.

Protesters carried slogans about protecting human rights in the US, alluding to the separation of children from parents without documents at the US-Mexican border.

Protests in the main square, near the presidential palace, are also announced for today.

Helsinki was chosen for the first bilateral meeting between Trump and Putin, which has a rich history from the Cold War era as a venue for negotiations between nuclear powers. Finland has such a role due to its neutrality.