Better quality of life. So we really started expanding our perspective on what we were trying to accomplish here. Woodruff and, its friday. David brooks and ruth marcus take on a week full of foreign tests for the Trump Administration. All that and more, on tonights pbs newshour. Major funding for the pbs newshour has been provided by moving our economy for 160 years. Bnsf, the engine that connects us. The ford foundation. Working with visionaries on the frontlines of social change worldwide. And with the ongoing support of these institutions and friends of the newshour. This program was made possible by the corporation for public broadcasting. And by contributions to your pbs station from viewers like you. Thank you. Woodruff it was the most highly anticipated meeting yet of the trump presidency. For the First Time Since he took office, mr. Trump was faceto face with his russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin. On the agenda . Syria, north korea, and moscows meddling in the 2016 election, about which there is still disagreement. From the g20 summit in hamburg, germany, special correspondent Ryan Chilcote reports. Reporter what was planned to last just over half an hour, turned into an unexpected two hours and 15 minutes. President trump and russian president Vladimir Putin began their much anticipated facetoface by exchanging visibly friendly greetings, given the state of u. S. Russia relations. Were going to have a talk now, and obviously that will continue. But we look forward to a lot of very positive things happening for russia, for the United States and for everybody concerned. And its an honor to be with you. translated im delighted to be able to meet you personally, mr. President , and i hope, as you said, our meeting will yield positive results. Reporter news of what was discussed came afterward, from the countries top diplomats secretary of state Rex Tillerson and foreign minister sergey lavrov. Among them allegations that russia meddled in the u. S. Election. In an audioonly briefing, tillerson said mr. Trump brought up the issue at the outset, and said the pair had a robust and lengthy discussion. The president opened the meeting with president putin by raising the concerns of the American People regarding russian interference in the 2016 election. The two leaders agreed, though, that this is a substantial hindrance in the ability of the United States to move the russianu. S. Relationship forward, and agreed to exchange further work regarding commitments of noninterference in the affairs of the United States and our democratic process, as well as those of other countries. Reporter tillerson added, putin denied any involvement. The Russian Foreign minister offered his own account. translated President Trump said that the campaign is already taking on a rather strange character, because during the many months that these accusations have been aired, there hasnt been a single fact. President trump has said hes heard president putins definitive statements that is not true, and that the russian leadership did not intervene in the election, and that he accepts those statements. Reporter yesterday, mr. Trump conceded russia likely played a role, but stopped short of blaming them solely for the election hack. Tillerson today said the russians asked for proof of interference, but stressed, both leaders agreed its best to move on. The president s rightly focused on, how do we move forward from what may be simply an intractable disagreement at this point. And i think the relationship and the president made this clear as well its too important. And its too important to not find a way to move forward. Not dismissing the issue in any way. Reporter the two leaders also discussed a ceasefire plan in place for southwestern syria. I think this is our first indication of the u. S. And russia being able to Work Together in syria, and as a result of that, we had a very lengthy discussion regarding other areas in syria that we can continue to Work Together on to deescalate the areas. Reporter tillerson, though, reiterated the u. S. Position that syrian president Bashar Alassad must eventually go, something russia has publicly opposed. All the while, outside todays smmit, there was no letup in massive demonstrations. Clashes between protesters and police engulfed germanys secondlargest city. Police again resorted to Water Cannons and tear gas to disperse crowds, and scores were arrested. German Officials Say more than 100 Police Officers have been injured. Meanwhile everyone here inside the g20 conference center, and by that i mean not just surgist journalists but a f the delegation as well focused on trying to find out as much as they possibly can actually what was discussed behind closed doors between the pesidents of the United States and russia. Judy. Woodruff a lot of questions, ryan. Two hours and 20 minutes. But first the contradiction that is apparently there. You have the Russian Foreign minister saying that President Trump accent president putins denial about russian metaling and we heard secretary of state Rex Tillerson say they are intractably in disagreement owe how do we read this . Thats an interesting one. The straight answer is we really dont know exactly what was said. The Russian Foreign minister as you pointed out did indeed say that President Trump had accepted president putins denial. Now i thought about this. You could have theoretically accept something without concurring with the view. But thats not what happened here. I listened to all of the Russian Foreign ministers comments. Ive been speaking russian for 28 years and together with a group of six native speakers, we went through the entire statement on the issue. He went much further. He said that President Trump has also asserted in this meeting that he hadnt heard a single fact in the month of allegations of meddling in the election. Now how does that meddle sort of fit in with what Rex Tillerson was saying. The u. S. Secretary of state kind of gave us some mixed signals. On one hand he began the press conference by saying President Trump has really pressed president putin and pushed him on this issue, but he also said, and i quote, the two president s didnt relitigate the past, that they were committed to working towards the future. And it was the u. S. s position that the best way to do that was to try in the future to win some kind of guarantee, some kind of commitment from the russians that they would not interfere in the future in u. S. Domestic policy or elections. Woodruff let me turn you to syria. After the meeting, it was announced that the two countries have agreed on a ceasefire for a part of syria and that october civil war. What do we know about the details of that . Reporter so what we know is that both the United States and russia have been discussing this for some time. It looks like most of the greanlt was worked out in advance. They signed a memorandum of understanding between russia, the greats and jordan. They would have a ceasefire that would begin shortly in syria, and that there would be a plan to deescalate or reduce the violence in the southwest of the country. The secretary of state did say that there was still a couple more meetings that were necessary. Maybe another week to work out the details who would actually be providing security on the ground. And i would point out remember, its not just russia and the United States that have forces in syria, iron does as well so it would be interesting to see how they fit into this agreement. I would also point out we have had four ceasefire agreements before this. Woodruff true. Ryan, finally so many journalists there and others watching this meeting today between the russian and the u. S. President , what are people taking away . What did you take away from this, i mean in terms of how they addressed, how they looked when they were together, what they said. Reporter well, the body language was warm, theres no doubt, theres no questioning that. You could really see that. President putin for his part, when he was speaking russian, he was very differential. E6s verhe was very polite and respectful, calling President Trump, mr. President as he addressed him. And then we heard from Rex Tillerson say that their chemistry was very positive, at they almost immediately took to one another. Interestingly i thought he also added that no one could stop the meetings. That several aides peaked in the door to try to break up the meeting and at one point melania tried to break it up and defight defight despite everyones wishes they talked for another hour because they enjoyed the conversation. Woodruff fascinating they ignored the first ladys effort to try to stop. Ryan chilcote reporting from germany. Thank you. And we will hear from britains defense secretary Michael Fallon on syria, russia and other issues, after the news summary. In the days other news, the u. S. , japan and south korea have agreed to apply maximum pressure after north koreas Intercontinental Ballistic Missile test. In a joint statement, they said they will push for a u. N. Security council resolution, to apply new sanctions on pyongyang. But, if the north chooses the right path, the countries stand ready to offer a brighter future. Experts believe the missile launched tuesday could hit alaska. And today, north korean state tv broadcast a message aimed at the u. S. translated north korea makes it clear once again that its development of an inter continental ballistic rocket is an option taken to defend itself. The test is a gift package, addressed to none other than the u. S. The u. S. Will receive more gift packages as it tries harder to destroy, by means of sanctions and pressure, the Overall National power and strategic position of north korea. The u. S. Japansouth korea statement also called on nations that border north korea to help reduce the threat. That is likely a reference to pyongyangs closest ally, china, whose leader meets with President Trump tomorrow. Mr. Trump met today with mexican president enrique pena nieto, and emphasized the importance of renegotiating nafta. It was the first facetoface meeting between the pair since President Trump took office. He hailed pena nieto as his friend, but said that he absolutely still wants mexico to pay for the proposed border wall between the countries. In egypt, a suicide car bombing killed at least 23 soldiers on the sinai peninsula, the worst attack there in years. Isis claimed the attack on a checkpoint south of rafah, meanwhile, in iraq, isis fighters are still clinging to a shrinking pocket of territory in mosul. Iraqi forces laid out the difficulty. translated we are facing challenges that slow down our operations. And thats because the Islamic State group is using civilians as human shields, especially children and women. And thats why we advance very slowly, because we have to protect their lives. Woodruff also today, the pentagon said that air strikes by the u. S. Led coalition in iraq and syria have killed more than 600 civilians. That is since the start of the antiisis campaign in 2014. Back in this country, hiring surged more than expected in june. The Labor Department says u. S. Employers added 222,000 jobs, the most in four months. But the Unemployment Rate ticked up slightly, from 4. 3 to 4. 4 , as more people looked for work. Analysts say its likely enough for another hike in the federal reserves key interest rate. For now, that news drove stocks higher on wall street today. The Dow Jones Industrial average gained 94 points to close at 21,414. The nasdaq rose 63 points, and the s p 500 added 15. For the week, all three indexes edged up a fraction of a percent. U. S. Attorney general Jeff Sessions visited the military prison at Guantanamo Bay today. He was joined by Deputy Attorney general rod rosenstein, and dan coats, the director of national intelligence. Sessions has called guantanamo a perfectly acceptable place for detaining terror suspects. A Justice Department spokesman said the visit was meant to get an uptodate understanding of current operations. And, a key press Freedom Group is criticizing a report by republican senators about leaks. The document released yesterday says leaks are harming National Security, and was sent to the attorney general. The committee to protect journalists said it seems intended to have a chilling effect, and resembles measures seen more often in authoritarian countries. Still to come on the newshour i sit down with the u. K. Defense secretary. Republicans considering alternatives in their fight to replace the Affordable Care act. Lowincome housing with a focus on Healthy Living. And, much more. Woodruff as part of the g20 summit this weekend, President Trump will meet with the united kingdoms prime minister, theresa may. Theyll have much to discuss, from the fight against isis, to the role of nato, and how their broader agendas differ from those of european allies. Earlier today i spoke with the u. K. s defense minister, sir Michael Fallon. I began by asking him about the differing reports on what mr. Trump said to president putin about russian meddling into the u. S. Election. It was an important meeting. It was right that they should meet reasonably early o its right that they should get along because theres quite a bit to talk to russia about. Woodruff you said earlier that the u. S. Should go into that meeting warily. Does it sound to you thats what happened. We have to engage with russia. That cant be business as usual with russia while the crimea remains annexed while ukraine is being interfered with. It cant be business as usual. But we think it important to have a with russia to try to deescalate any tensions and to ensure that where russia does have influence in the world and syria is one example, that we can bring russias influence to bat. Woodruff you work very closely obviously with the intel jubleIntelligence Community. We know President Trump has challenged the u. S. Intelligence communitys reporting n russian interference in the election. What effect might that have on russia and its continuing efforts to interfere here in the u. S. And in europe . Well we know russia intervened in some elections in europe. That we do know. And the dutch referendum and the french elections. Theres been an attempt to in montenegro that russia was suspected of being involved in. We know lets this pattern of behavior by russia in recent years. But im not able to comment on what happened here in your election. Woodruff to the extent president trouble is challenging the work President Trump is challenging the work of the u. S. Community does that have an effect on intelligence work abroad, internationally, k5079ion betweecooperation whend allies like the uk. Theres no close of cooperation of u. S. Intelligence between us and the United States. Services work extremely closely together, both monitoring what russia is doing but also again terrorism. So its a very close relationship to us. Its very important to us. Woodruff let me turn to syria. Were told the two president s did discuss syria. In fact after their meeting, it was reported that theyve agreed on a ceasefire for a section of southwestern syria. What do you know about that . Well any ceasefire has got to be good news and the civil war thats gone on are for so long now. But theres been many cease fires before that turned out not to be cease fires at all. Weve seen in aleppo in the north of syria weve seen russia allowing syria to go on booming their own civilians and hospitals after ceasefire has been declared. Now this one has got to be enforced, its got to be an actual ceasefire. Woodruff what do you look for. Whats the evidence of that . You want to see when it takes effect and what the ground rules are. Yes. We want to sate applie see it ao those on the grounds so we can get humanitarian aid to those cut off on the fighting. We need to get aid there and be absolutely sure it really is a ceasefire. But lets hope this one sticks and bring some peace to that part of syria down in the southwestern corner. Woodruff can a ceasefire make a difference though when the two sides disagree about whether president assad should stay in power. The u. S. Has said it wants them removed the russians are still saying they want him to stay. We dont see any long term future for assad in syria. This is a man whose attacked his own people. Hes barrel bombed his own people, used chemical weapons against his own people. We dont think he can be part of the long term future of sear jaw bujaw syria but there are pas who want to work to a more Democratic Syria working together now to bring about a new sent many. And were encouraging the responsive process in als