Trump and Putin meet in Helsinki, Finland on July 16, 2018 (Image: Wikimedia)
Vladimir Putin on Friday said he had invited President Donald Trump to visit Moscow after he had rejected an invitation from Trump to come and visit the White House. Putin noted that he and the U.S. president were ready for further summits but that conditions have to be right before a meeting could take place.
Though Putin failed to specify exactly what conditions need first be met, he did say that telephone calls between the two powers are insufficient and that more face-to-face summits should be held so that both sides can discuss solutions to conflicts such as the Iran nuclear deal and other global crisises.
“I understand perfectly that President Trump has a desire to hold further meetings, and I am ready for that. But there would need to be the appropriate conditions,” Putin said. “He has, in fact, the same invitation [to come to Moscow], and I told him so. I am ready to go to Washington but I repeat: if the right conditions will be established.”
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White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders today told receptors that President Trump was willing to visit Moscow as soon as receives a formal invitation.
“President Trump looks forward to having President Putin to Washington after the first of the year, and he is open to visiting Moscow upon receiving a formal invitation,” said Sanders.
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National Security Adviser John Bolton added that President Trump ideally want’s to have the meeting following the conclusion of Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s investigation.
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