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‘The ball is in your court’: Putin presents Trump with FIFA World Cup official ball

The Russian President wished his American counter[art a successful organisation of the 2026 FIFA World Cup

‘The ball is in your court’: Putin presents Trump with FIFA World Cup official ball

Russian President Vladimir Putin offers a ball of the 2018 FIFA World Cup to US President Donald Trump during a joint press conference after a meeting at the Presidential Palace in Helsinki, on July 16. (Photo: AFP)

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday presented his US counterpart Donald Trump with an official ball of the 2018 FIFA World Cup and wished the American leader a successful organisation of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Putin handed over the official match ball of the 2018 World Cup to Trump at a press conference after their summit talks here, reports Tass news agency.

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“As for the ball being in our court on the issue of Syria – Mister President (Trump) just said we have successfully organized the world football  championship. And speaking about the ball, I am turning it over to Mister President,” Putin said as he gave the official ball of this World Cup, Telstar 18 by Adidas, to Trump.

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“The ball is now in your court,” the Russian president said.

READ | Helsinki summit: No concrete results, but Donald Trump, Vladimir Putin content

After their first one-on-one meeting at the Helsinki summit on Monday, US President Donald Trump and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin voiced satisfaction with the interaction, though acknowledged problems remain.

 

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