Former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani on Wednesday boasted that US President Donald Trump's tough line had forced the North Korean leader to beg to re-schedule a high-profile summit after the president abruptly called off the meeting.

After the cancellation, "Kim Jong Un got back on his hands and knees and begged for it, which is exactly the position you want to put him in," Giuliani told a business conference in the Israeli city of Tel Aviv.

In an interview later with The Associated Press, Giuliani rejected suggestions that such comments might sour the atmosphere ahead of next week's summit in Singapore, saying that the North Korean leader must understand that the United States is in a position of strength.

"It is pointing out that the president is the stronger figure," Giuliani told the AP. "And you're not going to have useful negotiations unless he accepts that."

Giuliani said Trump had no choice but to call off the meeting after the North Koreans insulted Vice President Mike Pence, National Security Adviser John Bolton and threatened "nuclear annihilation" of the U.S.

"President Trump didn't take that. What he did was he called off the summit," he said.

Giuliani said Kim quickly changed his position, expressed willingness to discuss denuclearization and asked to have the meeting again.

"That's what I mean by begging for it," Giuliani said.

The summit is back on in Singapore next Tuesday.

Giuliani, Trump's lawyer in the Russian investigation, noted that he was sharing a personal opinion and was not part of the U.S. foreign policy team.

The former New York mayor is in Israel for a number of appearances, including a speech to a Tel Aviv business conference earlier in the day and an address late on Wednesday to OneFamily, a group that supports Israeli families whose loved ones have been wounded or killed in Palestinian attacks.

Giuliani is leading the defence of Trump in special counsel Robert Mueller's investigation into whether Trump associates coordinated with Russia during the 2016 presidential election, and whether Trump took steps to shut down that investigation through actions, including the firing of FBI Director James Comey.

Trump's team and allies have waged a public relations campaign against Mueller and the Justice Department to discredit the investigation and soften the impact of the special counsel's potential findings. In the latest salvo, Giuliani accused Mueller of trying to "frame" the president.

Giuliani claimed that Mueller has produced no evidence of wrongdoing by the president, and has stacked his team with partisan Democrats, including supporters of Hillary Clinton's presidential campaign.

Though Trump insists he did nothing wrong, the statements from him and his lawyers have made clear that much of their defence revolves around establishing that he was constitutionally empowered to take the actions he took.

Giuliani rejected criticism that the defence team is attacking the justice system or public institutions.

"We're trying to purify institutions," he added, accusing the media of trying to convict Trump and saying the prosecutors are "not saints" immune from attack.

Nonetheless, Giuliani said he remains in touch with Mueller, and that there have been discussions about allowing investigators to question the president. But he said his client needs assurances he won't be railroaded.

He said so far, Mueller has not produced evidence indicating wrongdoing by the president

Jerusalem - 6 June 2018

1. Set-up shot of US President Donald Trump's lawyer Rudy Giuliani

2. SOUNDBITE (English) Rudy Giuliani, US President Donald Trump's lawyer:

“What I’m saying is that (North Korean leader) Kim Jong Un had someone say terrible things about (US) Vice President (Mike) Pence. Terrible things about (National Security Advisor) John Bolton. And then had someone threaten nuclear annihilation of the United States. (US) President (Donald) Trump didn’t take that. What he did was he called off the summit and he was widely criticised for it. And Kim Jong Un changed his position. He said he was going to do denuclearisation. Again, we don’t have the conditions yet but at least that's a big shift and asked to have the meeting again. And that’s what I mean by 'begging for it'.”

3. Close of Giuliani

4. SOUNDBITE (English) Rudy Giuliani, US President Donald Trump's lawyer:

"It is pointing out that the president is the stronger figure and you're not going to have useful negotiations unless he accepts that. And my words don't matter - I'm not involved in the negotiations. But my comments as a citizen are very important."

5. Cutaway of Giuliani with associates

6. SOUNDBITE (English) Rudy Giuliani, US President Donald Trump's lawyer:

"In order to try to develop evidence against him, they have brought a number of very questionable cases. The prosecution of Mr. (Paul) Manafort for things in 2005 that had nothing to do with President Trump. I can't imagine why...whether Mr. Manafort did something wrong or not - I cant judge. But I can say it has nothing to do with President Trump. And then these Russians that were indicted, who are never going to come to the United States, who play dirty tricks like dressing up as clowns. If that is Russian collusion, I don't know maybe it is. But, the real question is there's not a single link to anybody in America. So what's that about if it isn't trying to formulate a case on the president when there is no evidence for it. A judge recently said that this investigation is more like investigating a man than a crime. Because, they don't have a crime. And that's why I say 'they're trying to frame him.' Because, if they had any sense they would realise they're trying to put together a case on an innocent man and that's what we call in America 'framing somebody'."

7. Cutaway of Giuliani taking photos with associates

8. SOUNDBITE (English) Rudy Giuliani, US President Donald Trump's lawyer:

"We're trying to purify institutions. You're just part of that whole...media that wants to turn around and convict President Trump when he's done nothing wrong. And nobody wants to recognise that that's what these people are engaged in. Well it's my job to defend a client and if I have to take on an Attorney General or an independent council, by God, I'll take them on. I'm not the first lawyer to do that. When someone is unfairly prosecuting you, you have got to point that out loudly and clearly - this is an unfair investigation. It has no basis in fact. President Trump did not talk to, meet with, or have anything to do with Russians at any time during the 2016 election. That is a totally phoney charge. And over a year-and-a-half and 20 million dollars later they don't have a single piece of proof that he did. Now, if you aren't framing him, then stop the investigation, put out your report and let the chips fall where they may."

9 . Cutaway of Giuliani taking photos with associates

10. SOUNDBITE (English) Rudy Giuliani, US President Donald Trump's lawyer:

"If they can show us some hard incriminating facts from that evidence, then we would consider advising our client to be interviewed. But, if we don't see it, then we have to conclude that we're not dealing with a fair-minded group of people."

11. Giuliani with associates

12. SOUNDBITE (English) Rudy Giuliani, US President Donald Trump's lawyer:

"Not only did (Robert) Mueller bring in heavy Democratic partisans to conduct the investigation of a Republican, he's also using the FBI agents who conducted the totally unfair, totally biased, in the other direction, investigation of Hillary Clinton. They should have used new agents, not agents that have conducted probably one of the most flawed investigations in American history."

13. Giuliani getting on a bus

FOR CLEAN VERSION SEE STORY NUMBER: apus112918

U.S. President Donald Trump on Thursday dismissed his former personal attorney's congressional testimony as a "fake hearing."

The attorney, Michael Cohen, testified Wednesday that Trump was a liar and a conman.

Trump, speaking in Vietnam after his summit meeting with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, said it was Cohen who was the liar.

"He lied a lot," the president said.

But Trump said he was a "little impressed" that Cohen told Congress there was "no collusion" between Trump's presidential campaign and Russia.

Cohen told U.S. lawmakers he had no "direct evidence" that Trump or his aides had colluded with Russia to get him elected.

That's the primary question of a nearly two-year investigation being led by special counsel Robert Mueller. Cohen has turned on Trump and pleaded guilty to lying to Congress earlier to protect Trump.

Cohen has already been sentenced to three years in prison for lying to Congress.

Hanoi - 28 February 2019

1. Wide of news conference with US President Donald Trump at lectern, reporter asking question

UPSOUND (English) Reporter's question: "Your former lawyer Michael Cohen who worked for you for ten years, his office right next to yours, right by your, Trump Tower, he called you a liar, a con man, a racist. What's your response to Michael Cohen?

2. SOUNDBITE (English) Donald Trump, US President:

"Well, it's incorrect. And you know it's very interesting because I tried to watch as much as I could. I wasn't able to watch too much because I've been a little bit busy. But I think having a fake hearing like that and having it in the middle of this very important summit is really a terrible thing. They could have made it two days later or next week and it would have been even better. They would have had more time. But having it during this very important summit is sort of incredible. And he lied a lot. But it was very interesting because he didn't lie about one thing. He said no collusion with the Russian hoax. And I said I wonder why he didn't just lie about that too like he did about everything else. I mean, he lied about so many different things and I was actually impressed that he didn't say 'Well I think there was collusion for this reason or that.' He didn't say that. He said 'no collusion' and I was a little impressed by that frankly. He could have gone all out. He only went about 95 percent instead of 100 percent. But the fact is there is no collusion and I call it the witch hunt. This should never happen to another president. This is so bad for our country. So bad. You look at this whole hoax. I called it the Russian witch hunt and I now add the word hoax. It's a very, very bad thing for our country. But, I was impressed with the fact that the most important question up there was the one on collusion and he said he saw no collusion. So we'll see what happens. But it was a pretty shameful, I think. Yes ma'am please please."

++ENDS ON SOUNDBITE++

U.S. President Donald Trump on Thursday dismissed his former personal attorney's congressional testimony as a "fake hearing."

The attorney, Michael Cohen, testified Wednesday that Trump was a liar and a conman.

Trump, speaking in Vietnam after his summit meeting with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, said it was Cohen who was the liar.

"He lied a lot," the president said.

But Trump said he was a "little impressed" that Cohen told Congress there was "no collusion" between Trump's presidential campaign and Russia.

Cohen told U.S. lawmakers he had no "direct evidence" that Trump or his aides had colluded with Russia to get him elected.

That's the primary question of a nearly two-year investigation being led by special counsel Robert Mueller. Cohen has turned on Trump and pleaded guilty to lying to Congress earlier to protect Trump.

Cohen has already been sentenced to three years in prison for lying to Congress.

Hanoi - 28 February 2019

1. Wide of news conference with US President Donald Trump at lectern, reporter asking question

UPSOUND (English) Reporter's question: "Your former lawyer Michael Cohen who worked for you for ten years, his office right next to yours, right by your, Trump Tower, he called you a liar, a con man, a racist. What's your response to Michael Cohen?

2. SOUNDBITE (English) Donald Trump, US President:

"Well, it's incorrect. And you know it's very interesting because I tried to watch as much as I could. I wasn't able to watch too much because I've been a little bit busy. But I think having a fake hearing like that and having it in the middle of this very important summit is really a terrible thing. They could have made it two days later or next week and it would have been even better. They would have had more time. But having it during this very important summit is sort of incredible. And he lied a lot. But it was very interesting because he didn't lie about one thing. He said no collusion with the Russian hoax. And I said I wonder why he didn't just lie about that too like he did about everything else. I mean, he lied about so many different things and I was actually impressed that he didn't say 'Well I think there was collusion for this reason or that.' He didn't say that. He said 'no collusion' and I was a little impressed by that frankly. He could have gone all out. He only went about 95 percent instead of 100 percent. But the fact is there is no collusion and I call it the witch hunt. This should never happen to another president. This is so bad for our country. So bad. You look at this whole hoax. I called it the Russian witch hunt and I now add the word hoax. It's a very, very bad thing for our country. But, I was impressed with the fact that the most important question up there was the one on collusion and he said he saw no collusion. So we'll see what happens. But it was a pretty shameful, I think. Yes ma'am please please."

++ENDS ON SOUNDBITE++

U.S. President Donald Trump on Thursday dismissed his former personal attorney's congressional testimony as a "fake hearing."

The attorney, Michael Cohen, testified Wednesday that Trump was a liar and a conman.

Trump, speaking in Vietnam after his summit meeting with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, said it was Cohen who was the liar.

"He lied a lot," the president said.

But Trump said he was a "little impressed" that Cohen told Congress there was "no collusion" between Trump's presidential campaign and Russia.

Cohen told U.S. lawmakers he had no "direct evidence" that Trump or his aides had colluded with Russia to get him elected.

That's the primary question of a nearly two-year investigation being led by special counsel Robert Mueller. Cohen has turned on Trump and pleaded guilty to lying to Congress earlier to protect Trump.

Cohen has already been sentenced to three years in prison for lying to Congress.

Hanoi - 28 February 2019

1. Wide of news conference with US President Donald Trump at lectern, reporter asking question

UPSOUND (English) Reporter's question: "Your former lawyer Michael Cohen who worked for you for ten years, his office right next to yours, right by your, Trump Tower, he called you a liar, a con man, a racist. What's your response to Michael Cohen?

2. SOUNDBITE (English) Donald Trump, US President:

"Well, it's incorrect. And you know it's very interesting because I tried to watch as much as I could. I wasn't able to watch too much because I've been a little bit busy. But I think having a fake hearing like that and having it in the middle of this very important summit is really a terrible thing. They could have made it two days later or next week and it would have been even better. They would have had more time. But having it during this very important summit is sort of incredible. And he lied a lot. But it was very interesting because he didn't lie about one thing. He said no collusion with the Russian hoax. And I said I wonder why he didn't just lie about that too like he did about everything else. I mean, he lied about so many different things and I was actually impressed that he didn't say 'Well I think there was collusion for this reason or that.' He didn't say that. He said 'no collusion' and I was a little impressed by that frankly. He could have gone all out. He only went about 95 percent instead of 100 percent. But the fact is there is no collusion and I call it the witch hunt. This should never happen to another president. This is so bad for our country. So bad. You look at this whole hoax. I called it the Russian witch hunt and I now add the word hoax. It's a very, very bad thing for our country. But, I was impressed with the fact that the most important question up there was the one on collusion and he said he saw no collusion. So we'll see what happens. But it was a pretty shameful, I think. Yes ma'am please please."

++ENDS ON SOUNDBITE++

A 29-year-old gun-rights activist served as a covert Russian agent while living in Washington, gathering intelligence on American officials and political organisations and working to establish back-channel lines of communications for the Kremlin, federal prosecutors charged Monday.

The announcement of the arrest of Maria Butina came just hours after President Donald Trump met Russian President Vladimir Putin and just days after special counsel Robert Mueller charged 12 Russian intelligence officials with directing a sprawling hacking effort aimed at swaying the 2016 election.

Duma Deputy, Vyacheslav Nikonov, said the arrest "sounds very much like McCarthyism."  

Mueller didn't file the charge against Butina, but court papers show her activities revolved around American politics during the 2016 campaign and included efforts to use contacts with the National Rifle Association to develop relationships with US politicians and gather intelligence for Russia.

Reacting to the summit in Helsinki between the two presidents, Nikonov said he was "not too enthusiastic" about its results.

"That was the unfreezing of the relationship that should exist. Otherwise the human race and both our countries are in trouble," he added.

Nikonov said he thought Putin was "sincere" when he suggested that US officials could take part in the investigation of 12 Russians indicted by the US on Friday, for alleged hacking.

Ultranationalist politician Vladimir Zhirinovsky also welcomed this announcement by Putin during the joint news conference with Trump.

"It's absolutely necessary for the investigators to meet, the representatives of law enforcement," he said.

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Moscow – 17 July 2018

1. Various of Kremlin and Red Square

2.Various interiors of State Duma of sign reading: (Russian) "State Duma"

3. SOUNDBITE: (English) Vyacheslav Nikonov, State Duma Deputy:

"It looks like this 29-year-old girl was detained because, a) she's Russian, b) she knows Alexander Torshin, the former senator who now works in the Central Bank and c) that she was for improving the relationship between Russia and the United States without being registered as a foreign agent. To me it sounds very much like McCarthyism. Where is American democracy?"

ASSOCIATED PRESS - AP CLIENTS ONLY

FILE: Moscow – 21 April 2013

4. Various STILLS of Maria Butina taking part in a gun rights rally

ASSOCIATED PRESS – AP CLIENTS ONLY

Moscow – 17 July 2018

5. Cutaway of State Duma

6. SOUNDBITE: (English) Vyacheslav Nikonov, State Duma Deputy:

"Well, we're not too enthusiastic about the results of the summit. That was the unfreezing of the relationship that should exist. Otherwise the human race and both our countries are in trouble."

7. Cutaway of State Duma

8. SOUNDBITE: (English) Vyacheslav Nikonov, State Duma Deputy:

"I think he was absolutely sincere saying that the Mueller commission guys can come to Moscow and interrogate them, together with Russian investigators, according to the procedures which exist."

9. Cutaway of State Duma

10. SOUNDBITE: (Russian) Vladimir Zhirinovsky, leader of the unltranationalist "Liberal Democratic Party of Russia":

"It's absolutely necessary for the investigators to meet, the representatives of law enforcement. If there's suspicion in America in relation to employees of our intelligence bodies, them let them come here. Come here, meet, discuss, and all questions will be decided in the right way. But just to make announcements that allegedly some kind of group, somewhere did something – that's just gossip."

11. Various of people on Manezh Square

12. SOUNDBITE: (Russian) Ludmilla Giorgievna, Moscow resident:

"I think yes (that the Trump-Putin summit will change Russia-US relations) – we hope for the best. They said that the Cold War is over. It's getting warmer. So we hope that our generation will see better times. And our grandchildren, even better."

13. Cutaway of people on Manezh Square

14. SOUNDBITE: (Russian) Dmitry Kolokosky, Moscow resident:

"I really hope so (that relations will improve) I try to be positive about things. Considering that we had such a successful World Cup, I'm hoping that things will go in that direction."

15. Various of Red Square