Russian President Vladimir Putin could meet with former U.S. President Donald Trump sometime in February or March, a senior Russian lawmaker said Thursday.
Leonid Slutsky, chairman of the State Duma’s International Affairs Committee, told reporters that preparations for the summit were at an “advanced stage.”
“Whether it’s February or March, let’s not speculate — let the leaders competently and comprehensively prepare for it,” Slutsky said, adding that more details on the meeting would “appear soon.”
The Kremlin confirmed Wednesday that Russian officials had recently “intensified” contacts with members of Trump’s administration. Trump said Sunday that White House officials were in talks with Russian authorities about ending the war in Ukraine but declined to say whether he had personally spoken to Putin.
Putin said last month that he was ready to meet with Trump to discuss the Ukraine war and other “areas of interest to both the U.S. and Russia.”
“The meeting may cover the most pressing issues in world politics — Ukraine, the Middle East, and the future of the international order,” Slutsky, a member of the nationalist Liberal Democratic Party, told reporters.
Slutsky’s comments followed a closed-door briefing by Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov at the State Duma, according to Kremlin-aligned Telegram channels.
A Message from The Moscow Times:
Dear readers,
We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."
These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.
Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.
By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.
Remind me later.
