Donald Trump sat down to talk to Vladimir Putin for several minutes at the end of an evening event at the G20 summit in Buenos Aires in November, with no translator or note taker from the US side to record the dialogue, say people with direct knowledge of the encounter or who were briefed on it.
The discussions between the US and Russian presidents occurred at the 19th century Colon theatre in the Argentine capital, as world leaders and their spouses or guests were streaming out of the building.
Mr Trump was accompanied by Melania Trump, his wife, but no staff, while Mr Putin was flanked by a translator. The four of them sat at a table and were among the last to leave.