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Russia Slams Proposal to Question Trump Summit Translator

by Associated Press

   MOSCOW --

   Russian politicians are rallying behind Vladimir Putin and denouncing
   American suggestions that the translator at his meeting with U.S.
   President Donald Trump be interrogated about what they discussed
   privately.

   Russia's ambassador to the U.S., Anatoly Antonov, expressed hope
   Thursday that "the verbal agreements between Putin and Trump will be
   fulfilled." Russian officials worry that domestic turmoil in the U.S.
   will hamper potential future cooperation on Syria or arms control
   discussed at the summit.
   Russian officials have shrugged off Trump's wildly contradictory
   accounts of what he said to Putin at Monday's summit.
   They are angry however at proposals by U.S. lawmakers to question
   Trump's translator. Konstantin Kosachev, head of the upper house of
   parliament's foreign affairs committee, said Thursday the idea sets a
   dangerous precedent that threats the "the whole idea of diplomacy,"
   according to Russian news agencies.