Transcript for Trump, Putin hold working lunch during summit

Devin Dwyer live at ABC news headquarters in New York for our continuing coverage of the Helsinki summit as you heard there from towards the president. Just including a little over two hours of a private meeting with Vladimir Putin in those. Reader saying they are now pretty stoic. Down to launch the president saying that it's a very good start in response to a shouted shouted question. Are we a full team coverage of today's summit we're here Washington in new York and over in Helsinki want to bring in. Our White House reporter Catherine falters he's been tracking this all morning she covers president trump every day Katherine. Oh let's just take apart some of the body language there that's one of one of the things that's really been fascinating to see today these two leaders coming together for the first time. Opt Vladimir Putin famously stoic president trump a little more loose. What do you read and what you've seen so far. He at you know I'm no body language expert here but if you look at the two of them you can see. That's what does leaning forward a little that you see in there tapping his fingertips together listening talking seems. Alliance but also mixed with a little bit more easing the little bit more uptight and Newton who was leaning back. Oh with his arm on his arm rest there but as you mentioned them trump has downplayed this meeting. Calling it a loose summit meeting he's trying to appear that way there but seemed a little more comfortable and since fat. First interaction there the president has posted a photo on his Amsterdam account of them shaking hands but interestingly the photo white house Press Secretary Sarah Sanders weeded out. Shows appears the show didn't. Closing his eyes or or or looking down I can't help but wonder how the president. Might react that there was any an that was as strategic in any way but seven year member pat President Obama and 2012 said. That Clinton was quote like a board a kid he had that same. Sort of this clouds that he did when he met with that President Obama that the body language seemed a little bit more. Friendly here. Towards trop but I remind you of that from sweet and Tony twelve where he says Clinton has no respect for our president. Really bad body language the other thing and it is at a point now that I noticed Aaron that video. Is that who also had a note pad next to him trump. Appeared to not have a notepad they were in there for over two hours. People some folks have raised concerns. About the mixed messages sent my come out of this meeting so obviously that no pat and in the taking its could be more significant later on as well. Think capture and that we use you've been tracking the agenda of this meeting we don't know what the two leaders talked about for two hours but we do you know who and I think we have a graphic of some of the things that were supposed to be discussed. Election Madelaine in the United States with some in the president has promised to bring up. We know that they were expected to talk about two arms control treaties that are very controversial. Other also good to delve into Crimea and the Russian invasion 2014 of that. That part of Ukraine and of course the conflict in Syria a big topic as well although many people pointing out on Twitter that. President from didn't mention. The big game that they went on the top of the list air during that opening. Photo op with Vladimir Putin let's bring in our Cokie Roberts Cokie. A number of Republicans. In congress Democrats to of course very concerned about what the president might give away. In these very private conversations. Absolutely and I just the question election mentally he. Ends up agreeing with food and that that nothing happened. Because he isn't repeatedly called investigation into that it witch hunt. But also those issues that he did not mention at the beginning of the meeting Crimea. There's been a lot of concern that he might agreed that the Russian occupation army is legitimate. Because he has been quoted saying that and it speaks Russian. Now he would have a problem recognizing Crimea days and actual law on the books. That says that in his United States policy. That we would never recognize the illegal annexation I'm quoting now from the law. Of Crimea by the Russians. Or of Anthony's separate separation of Ukrainian territory by military force. So you'd have trouble trying to unilaterally recognize that. That occupation. Thereof things. Catherine documented arms control treaties when it extend the new start treaty for three years that something else. Where congress would have a say but not a big say. And come is you know also eight at the NATO summit recently concluded there was some concern some chatter there that. He might to do is he did and we in the Singapore summit and voluntarily. Offer to. It's say withdraw from some of those training exercises with NATO maybe even pull troops out of Syria which was something that. All right I'll all of this could be on the table we don't know what happened very 1980. Again the congress is tried to serve stick its toe in the water on NATO. We haven't seen. And a lot of courage out of actress in terms of during the Paris Trout but they did ask while he was there at NATO. And had had said some inflammatory things. House of Representatives unanimously. Passed. A resolution basically saying don't mess with NATO and the senate passes some violent few days earlier by him and sent to. So. You know and this is trying to say hold on Mr. President don't give away the store. That's right and many European allies nervously watching this as well let's take that to terror Paul Mary. Our White House correspondent who is in Helsinki she's been talking to. A number of the allies European diplomats that boat that NATO. And there in the region and Terry you've been here in that it's Cokie was talking about their very anxious to see. Perhaps what do president trampled to militarily even some concern that he hoped could pull troops out of Germany even. If if this goes a certain way. Right we have 33000 American troops in Germany right now. And precedent that made it very clear he doesn't want the policemen of the world anymore he's even called NATO obsolete. But in this region of the world they really rely on the United States protect them so. There's concern that he might strike a deal in which. Rush severed moves troops from Syria or pressure Iran turned it took hysteria from Syria in exchange for a pullback of US presence in this area of the world. And that would be disastrous for them eight. Real light on on the US and we have a very strong presence here because historically. Europe's interests aligned with US track. And I think. And let's take a step back the first secretary you've you've been you've been following this president's dance with with Vladimir Putin and the Russians since the campaign. And I think many people this morning wandering in wits with. So many reasons not to meet. In so many reasons why this relationship has been so strained for so long. Why are they meeting now and why. Is president trump so intent on repairing relations rush. That's a good question that I spoke to senior. US diplomat last may he sent. So many presidents have. An argument that quickly within the first year there office and they just thought it was the right time. Now we know that presidents have had been eager to meet with Vladimir and for very long time. For personal reasons political reasons. It's his big update African he's coming off a high and the Singapore summit like met with. North Korean leader Kim Jong like an intricate Needham really meet point as saying I can do what my predecessor. Barack Obama could not do and that is he's relations with Russia he thinks it coming here and he can and her firsts. Years and years of aggression which she says are now what the worst level they've ever bed and and he might be right about that. Her pulmonary force there Helsinki thank you so much journalist for wrecking Catherine folders are White House reporter Catherine. You were on the campaign tour president trump you have followed his fawning praise for Vladimir Putin. Something a lot of people are talking about today on line the president has been so reluctant to criticize the Russians. And yet he claims that the administration has been tougher on Russia. Then President Obama was what. Yeah hey you remember during the campaign that he would call him. Anything you would hope we could be friends with everybody wanted to meet with him Monday that he thought that they have a a very good relationship while also saying that need them. Being tougher on rush they and the Obama administration. DeVon but the reality is. The president already framing this meaning C a like he's. On the side of Russia that remarkable tweet I'm just hours before where he blames the United States and Bob Muller's investigation on me cause it. And it you know Russians were sent ever house then because of this rig which time as he says so. That of course Russia quoting that tweet and saying. You know we agree so already added to a you know taking assigned a bit. Of resting here he says there's been a very good start but that's scenes. Not to be quite in line. With exactly what his administration is saying saying that these. That the indictments only strengthen. Trumps hands so the reality is that he has. Praised Vladimir Payton and he seems to be doing that also again this morning. Little bit of good cop bad cop the president positive on food and let the administration as you point out. Imposing some pretty stiff sanctions on Russia. Expelling sixty diplomats earlier this year after that poisoning in great Britain and of course. Doing something President Obama didn't do that sell. Offensive weapons to Ukraine those anti tank. Missiles to Ukraine that was something the Russians did not want to be president trump. Did it let's bring in Patrick Deval who's our reporter in Moscow. Usually bodies there in Helsinki Patrick. You've got pretty incredible take on this. And have been talking to people that negotiated with President Putin before. Give us a sense what you've been hearing what's it like in that room when an American sits down face to face with Vladimir who. I mean it it's a very unusual experience negotiating with that if prudent we hear most of all is that he is extremely calculating. Negotiated it becomes. To each told where you with officials. Very well prepay. And we hold playbook tactics are tripping people up on what American officials and European officials have told me is that he likes to spring surprises on people. I must owing to to a former European president who told me. She was so you know this'll just be a relaxed getting to know you session. When we can talk about that some of mutual areas of consent. And then he arrived with with a huge stack of documents. Catch here. You know trying to catch show of god and in the whole plane is that these sort of mind games and listen is arriving. Late famously unity keeping people waiting. Ammon and so people use the attribute this to his his KGB training and one of the things that kept coming up again and again is that he is just very good. And evaluating. People and kind of speaking out that pressure points are what they might one very quickly and so obviously it it's a big challenge. Going into that especially since he said experiences been that eighteen years. Ever remember that famous meeting he had with Germany's on the low Merkel who is afraid of dogs. And as you know Patrick he he had some dogs brought into that meeting to sort of ruffle her feathers a little bit. So one wonders what surprises that perhaps he sprung on president trump today it will we will find out there is a press conference coming up so stay with us here at ABC news live. I Patrick before let you go you've been been around Helsinki you've seen the town. Up to point out what you give us a little sense of the scene behind you it's it's a beautiful landscape what are we looking at there behind you. And I understand there are some billboards up around town with some messages for president who did wrong. Snow is standing in Helsinki is hot that behind me is that Presidential Palace when the two have been meeting. US is as beautiful city and the same time that being protests as tea for the last few days protesting both president charm and president food and and that the national news faith they hear has been putting up bill was saying in in Russian and English welcome to the land of the free press Mr. President. Elvis it has that they get. Both at item it prudent as we know is presided over a crack down on on freedom of expression in his own country and of course president trump has done very. Contentious relationship with the news media would they use and so on it's it's I think. The things like to say you know that not since being usual ground it'd that they have their own point of view to. After rebel force in Helsinki are Moscow reporter Patrick thank you so much for your reporting that's bring back in. Cokie Roberts one last time here before we we head off to this press conference which is coming up Cokie should be quite fascinating to see the two leaders standing there. It will give us your big picture sense what are you going to be looking for in that press conference. To it to to determine whether or not this was was actually successful meeting in in the best sense of that word. I'm going to be looking to see what president trump says about. The United States' relationship with Russia whether he he continues to blame President Obama. For what he says is an hour's period not relationships between countries. Our whether he's. Takes on Russia in any way mean that has been the main thing we have all been watching this saying that Europe and congress have been concerned about. Is that he is just going to cave to Vladimir Putin and not stand out from the United States. Mayor. And we will see. Whether or not president trump and fact puts takes a harder line when he stands excellent flattener Putin coming up. A little bit later this morning here on ABC news life Cokie Roberts thank you very much for that. And we'll have continuing coverage of the Helsinki summer right here at abcnews.com. And an ABC news. App on your iphones and ipads. Follow us a little bit later it's going to be a pretty incredible sight with the two leaders standing side by side and taking questions from reporters in Helsinki. Coming up but we're expecting in about 1115. 11:30 AM eastern time but as we've said they are running a little bit behind to stay with us right here at ABC news live Phnom Devin Dwyer a New York thanks for watching.

This transcript has been automatically generated and may not be 100% accurate.