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Trump invited Putin to White House during congratulatory call last month Trump invited Putin to White House during congratulatory call last month
(35 minutes later)
Donald Trump has invited Vladimir Putin to Washington, the White House and the Kremlin both confirmed on Monday.Donald Trump has invited Vladimir Putin to Washington, the White House and the Kremlin both confirmed on Monday.
The Kremlin said no preparations had been made by the time the US expelled 60 Russian diplomats last week.The Kremlin said no preparations had been made by the time the US expelled 60 Russian diplomats last week.
The White House spokeswoman, Sarah Sanders, confirmed that Trump and Putin had discussed a meeting and that the White House was one possible venue, but gave no further details.The White House spokeswoman, Sarah Sanders, confirmed that Trump and Putin had discussed a meeting and that the White House was one possible venue, but gave no further details.
A Putin aide, Yuri Ushakov, told Russian news agencies that Trump made the offer when he called Putin to congratulate him on his election win – a call that caused controversy because Trump’s critics argued that congratulations were inappropriate for elections that few saw as being free and fair, and because of Russian aggression in Ukraine and Syria as well as Moscow’s interference in western elections.A Putin aide, Yuri Ushakov, told Russian news agencies that Trump made the offer when he called Putin to congratulate him on his election win – a call that caused controversy because Trump’s critics argued that congratulations were inappropriate for elections that few saw as being free and fair, and because of Russian aggression in Ukraine and Syria as well as Moscow’s interference in western elections.
“When our presidents spoke on phone, Trump suggested meeting at White House,” Ushakov is quoted as saying. “This is quite an interesting, positive idea.”“When our presidents spoke on phone, Trump suggested meeting at White House,” Ushakov is quoted as saying. “This is quite an interesting, positive idea.”
Asked about the invitation, the White House spokeswoman, Sarah Sanders, issued a statement saying: “As the President himself confirmed on March 20, hours after his last call with President Putin, the two had discussed a bilateral meeting in the ‘not-too-distant future’ at a number of potential venues, including the White House. We have nothing further to add at this time.” Asked about the invitation, the White House spokeswoman, Sarah Sanders, issued a statement saying: “As the President himself confirmed on 20 March, hours after his last call with President Putin, the two had discussed a bilateral meeting in the ‘not-too-distant future’ at a number of potential venues, including the White House. We have nothing further to add at this time.”
Ushakov said that the two governments had not had time to start planning a White House meeting before the US and other western allies expelled over 150 Russian diplomats last week in response to Moscow’s alleged use of a nerve agent in the attempted murder of an Russian ex-spy, Sergei Skrypal and his daughter Yulia, in the UK town of Salisbury. Ushakov said that the two governments had not had time to start planning a White House meeting before the US and other western allies expelled over 150 Russian diplomats last week in response to Moscow’s alleged use of a nerve agent in the attempted murder of an Russian ex-spy, Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia, in the UK town of Salisbury.
It was the biggest ever US expulsion of alleged intelligence officials at one time, and included 48 diplomats attached to the bilateral diplomatic mission in Washington and New York, and a further 12 attached to the Russian mission to the United Nations.It was the biggest ever US expulsion of alleged intelligence officials at one time, and included 48 diplomats attached to the bilateral diplomatic mission in Washington and New York, and a further 12 attached to the Russian mission to the United Nations.
Trump has not referred to the Salisbury attack or the expulsions in his recent remarks or tweets, and the state department confirmed on Monday that Russia would be able to replace the expelled officials.Trump has not referred to the Salisbury attack or the expulsions in his recent remarks or tweets, and the state department confirmed on Monday that Russia would be able to replace the expelled officials.
“The United States has expelled 48 Russian intelligence officers, but it is not requiring the Russian bilateral mission to reduce its total number of personnel,” a state department spokesman said. “As with similar incidents in the past, the Russian government remains free to request accreditation for vacant positions in its bilateral mission. Any requests for new diplomatic accreditation will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis.”“The United States has expelled 48 Russian intelligence officers, but it is not requiring the Russian bilateral mission to reduce its total number of personnel,” a state department spokesman said. “As with similar incidents in the past, the Russian government remains free to request accreditation for vacant positions in its bilateral mission. Any requests for new diplomatic accreditation will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis.”
“The Russian Federation has not informed us that it intends to reduce the total number of personnel allowed in our bilateral mission. We therefore understand that the United States may request new diplomatic personnel to fill the positions of diplomats who have been expelled.”“The Russian Federation has not informed us that it intends to reduce the total number of personnel allowed in our bilateral mission. We therefore understand that the United States may request new diplomatic personnel to fill the positions of diplomats who have been expelled.”
Vladimir Putin “Against the backdrop of these events, it’s difficult to discuss the possibility of holding a summit,” Ushakov said.
“We want to believe that the discussions [on a proposed summit] will begin,” he added. “We want to hope that ... one day, at one time or another we can arrive at the start of a serious and constructive dialogue.”
Donald TrumpDonald Trump
Vladimir Putin
RussiaRussia
EuropeEurope
US politics
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