Europe shocked after Trump-Putin meeting in Helsinki

In the shock wave that followed the Monday meeting of U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin in Helsinki, European allies, long concerned by flailing relations with Washington, have expressed shock at what appeared to be the American president's alignment with his Russian counterpart.

At the press conference after the meeting, the two leaders voiced their satisfaction with the meeting as a "very constructive" one that marks the "first important step" towards better ties.

The joint press conference was overshadowed by media questions about Moscow's alleged meddling with U.S. elections, despite Putin's categorical denial of any interference and Trump's attacking of the findings of U.S. intelligence agencies.

Blaming his predecessor Barack Obama and others for prior bad relations with Russia, Trump said, "I don't see any reason why they [Russians] would have done it."

Trump is facing a strong backlash at home as political allies and opponents react strongly to his words, including U.S. House of Representatives Speaker Paul Ryan who said the president "must appreciate that Russia is not our ally."

European allies have also reacted to Trump's position at the end of his meeting with Putin.

One of the strongest critiques came from German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas, who said in a statement "We can no longer rely on the White House." "To maintain our partnership with the U.S. we must readjust it," Heiko Maas told the Funke newspaper group. "The first clear consequence can only be that we need to align ourselves even more closely in Europe."

Just prior to the Helsinki meeting, Trump had referred to the European Union as "foes" in trade, stoking more anger in line with recent tensions over stiff American tariffs on European steel and aluminum, a barrier to trade that the White House has refused to waive for its European allies.

European Council President Donald Tusk tweeted Sunday in response that "America and the EU are best friends. Whoever says we are foes is spreading fake news."