Presence of Russian photographer in Oval Office raises alarms

In an even more freaky twist, all United States media outlets were barred from witnessing the meeting between Trump and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, a meeting also attended by Russian Ambassador to the United States, Sergey Kislyak.

Other officials pointed out that the access given to the photographer could have been a lapse in security, as the standard screening used for White House guests would have not detected a sophisticated spying device.

However, an administration official told the Washington Post that White House rooms are "swept routinely" for listening devices.

Security experts brought up the problems with allowing Russian photographers into the White House, especially given the accusations that Russian officials interfered in the us presidential election and colluded with the Trump campaign, not to mention the fact that the Trump administration has reportedly been lax on security protocols in the past.

But the veteran Russian diplomat said the two sides were seeking to "remove all the barriers" in their thorny relationship, and praised his meetings on Syria as "constructive".

The Post noted that among the critics are former deputy Central Intelligence Agency director David S. Cohen, who condemned the decision on Twitter.

The Kremlin has hidden bugs in sensitive USA facilities.

Dmitry Peskov says Russian Federation hopes that President Donald Trump's decision to fire the FBI's James Comey won't affect U.S. -Russia ties "in any way".

In a report on the meeting, The Washington Post noted that it is highly unusual for a president to meet with foreign individuals who are at the center of scandals.

He then jerked his head back in a dismissive gesture and walked away, shaking his head.

"I never thought that I would have to answer such questions, particularly being in the U.S.", Lavrov told reporters.

While not unprecedented, it is a rare privilege for a foreign minister to be received by a US president for a bilateral meeting in the White House.

Mr Trump said he had summoned Mr Kissinger to discuss "Russia and various other matters".

As part of the Russian press pool, he has covered many of Lavrov's official trips around the globe, including in the U.S., the photographer said, explaining that a procedure for such events is routine: "The lists of journalists who cover trips are always submitted beforehand".

FBI and congressional investigations are looking into possible collusion between Trump campaign associates and the Kremlin related to last year's presidential election. The Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, however, highlighted it in a video posted to its official feed.

Comey's dismissal escalated concerns in both parties that Trump may be trying to undermine an investigation that appears to be gaining steam. Bernie Sanders' presidential campaign past year, said President Trump is "engaged in a pattern of removing individuals from office who are executing their responsibilities under the law", citing Trump's firing of former Acting U.S. Attorney General Sally Yates, former NY U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara and Comey. He also urged Russian Federation to implement the Minsk accord reached in 2014 in an attempt to end the fighting in Ukraine and "raised the possibility of broader cooperation on resolving conflicts in the Middle East and elsewhere", the statement said. The president chose to fire Comey, then had Attorney General Jeff Sessions and Rosenstein come up with a rationale. He said the Obama administration had driven U.S.

Russian equities are weaker this week and this month, reflecting lower oil prices as much as the negatives of Russia's global influence being debated in the United States. He is at the center of a series of questions about contacts between Trump's inner circle and the Russian government.