Vladimir Putin told reporters ‘you are ignorant’ after they asked whether Russia would stop killing civilians in Ukraine, a lipreader has told Metro.
The Russian president appeared to become annoyed at questions thrown at him before negotiations with US President Donald Trump in Anchorage, Alaska.
Earlier, Putin told Trump ‘I am here to help you’ and ‘I will bring it to a rest’ as they met on the tarmac at the Elmendorf-Richardson military base .
The pair are meeting in the remote US state to discuss bringing an end to the Russia-Ukraine war which has been raging for more than three years.
Speaking to Metro, Lip reading expert Nicola Hickling said Putin responded angrily to questions shouted at him by reporters.
Journalists asked the Russian president: ‘Mr Putin, will you agree to a ceasefire?’ and ‘Mr Putin, will you commit to not kill any more civilians?’
According to Nicola at the Lipreader, Putin first shouted back ‘you is ignorant’ before cupping his hands around his mouth and saying ‘You are ignorant’.
The media team are then forced to leave the negotiation room and so the rest of Putin’s response is not visible.
Putin and Trump exchanged a long greeting once the Russian president arrived at the military base at about 11am local time (8pm BST).
Trump told Putin ‘you made it, fantastic to see you’ as the two presidents saw each other, Nicola reveals.
Putin reportedly said back: ‘Thank you, and you. I am here to help you.’
The US President then is said to have replied: ‘I’ll help you.’
Pointing towards Trump, Putin says, ‘All they need is to ask.’
Trump answers simply, ‘Okay.’
Putin continues, ‘I will bring it to a rest’ in a possible reference to a ceasefire with Ukraine
Trump responds: ‘I hope it does.’
The pair then make their way towards the stage and the presidential limo waiting for them.
Turning towards the vehicle, Trump smiles and says, ‘Come on, let’s get straight into the vehicle. We need to move forward, both giving it attention. I know this is serious, it’s quite long. What a journey it is.’
He continues by saying to Putin: ‘It’s high pressure. Do you want the scoop?’
Putin nods: ‘Give me the scoop.’
The US president tells him, “It’s cargo fuel.’
After reaching the podium for pictures alongisde the Russian leader, Trump says, ‘Thank you. Let’s shake hands, it gives a good impression.’
Putin nods in agreement, shakes his hand, and says, ‘Thank you.’
The two presidents then get into the Beast and drive away to their ‘working breakfast’ which began at 11.30am local time (8.30pm) in the UK.
Trump and Putin were initially expected to meet behind closed doors, with interpreters the only other people in the room.
However the one-on-one became a three-on-three, with US secretary of state Marco Rubio and Trump’s top negotiator Steve Witkoff joining on the American side.
Joining Putin is Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and Putin’s foreign affairs adviser Yuri Ushakov.
Once that’s done, the two presidents are expected to hold a wider meeting with their delegations, before Trump gives Mr Zelensky and other European leaders a call, and a joint press conference is held.
The UN has concluded that Russian forces have committed war crimes against civilians in Ukraine.
The Russian military has killed and Ukrainian civilians living in an area stretching over 100 kilometres along the Dnipro River, a report published by the UN’s Independent International Commission of Inquiry on Ukraine said in May this year.
The Commission called the drone attacks widespread, systematic and ‘conducted as part of a coordinated state policy’.
They said nearly 150 civilians were killed and hundreds more injured in the mentioned area.
Russia has denied all allegations of war crimes or targeting civilians.
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