Football diplomacy: World Cup host Putin gives Trump a ball

Helsinki - "Speaking about having the ball in our court in Syria," Putin said, in an awkward change of subject.

Riding high after hosting a successful World Cup, Russian President Vladimir Putin brought a special gift to his summit with US President Donald Trump: a football.

After a journalist asked a question at their joint press conference Monday in Helsinki using soccer metaphors, Putin pulled out a red-and-white ball and tossed it at Trump, at the neighboring podium.
"Speaking about having the ball in our court in Syria," Putin said, in an awkward change of subject. "President Trump has just mentioned that we've successfully concluded the football World Cup.

"Speaking of football, actually, Mr President, I will give the ball to you and now the ball is in your court. All the more as the United States will host the World Cup in 2026."
Trump said he'd give it to his 12-year-old son Barron, a football fan. Then the US president tossed the ball to his wife Melania, sitting in the front row.
He cheerfully returned the compliment, saying he hoped the United States would host an equally successful competition, and promised to give the ball to his 12-year-old son Barron.

The exchange appeared to amuse the two leaders but it did not go down so well back in Washington, where many figures from both sides of the political spectrum felt Trump had been too trusting of Putin's denials of covert interference.

"If it were me, I'd check the soccer ball for listening devices and never allow it in the White House," hawkish Republican Senator Lyndsey Graham said on Twitter.

In a separate incident shortly before the presidents arrived for the news conference an apparent protester was dragged away by security bearing a sign referring to the nuclear test ban treaty.

Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham, a Putin critic, tweeted: "if it were me, I'd check the soccer ball for listening devices and never allow it in the White House."

Russia's organization of the monthlong World Cup, which ended Sunday, won wide praise.