Alva Review-Courier -

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin firmed up plans Thursday to meet in Helsinki next month for a closely watching sit-down that will play out just days after what is likely to be a tense meeting between Trump and some of the United States' closest allies.

Trump and Putin will meet July 16 against the backdrop of an ongoing special counsel probe into possible ties between the president's campaign and Russian officials. The investigation into Russian election meddling has raised tensions between Moscow and Washington at a time when Trump has repeatedly...