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Trump Rejects Putin Offer on Vote in Disputed Ukraine Region

Referendum would have antagonized Ukraine and European allies
Russian leader made proposal at Helsinki summit with Trump

President Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin in Helsinki, on July 16. — President Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin in Helsinki, on July 16.
Photographer: Chris Ratcliffe/Bloomberg

July 20, 2018, 4:15 PM UTCUpdated onJuly 20, 2018, 5:02 PM UTC

President Donald Trump rejected Russian leader Vladimir Putin’s offer to settle the conflict in eastern Ukraine with a referendum in the disputed region, the White House said Friday.

“The administration is not considering supporting a referendum in the eastern Ukraine,” said Garrett Marquis, a spokesman for the White House National Security Council.