Vladimir Putin Tells Trump that Russia Is ‘Open To Dialogue‘
WE ARE HERE
Putin's statement comes in the wake of several failed attempts at summits.
Kevin Lamarque/REUTERS
Russian President Vladimir Putin told President Trump that the Kremlin was “open to dialogue” on a “wide-ranging agenda,” Reuters reports. Putin made this claim Sunday in a New Year Letter to Trump, which comes in the wake of failed efforts to hold a new summit. Trump abruptly called off a scheduled meeting with Putin at the G20 summit in Argentina. Trump cited tensions over Russian military activity in Ukraine as prompting his decision. The two leaders also failed to have a meeting during the 100-year commemoration of the Armistice in Paris. Trump and Putin had their “one and only” summit this July in Helsinki, according to Reuters. “Vladimir Putin stressed that the (Russia-United States) relations are the most important factor for providing strategic stability and international security,” the Kremlin reportedly said in a statement. “He confirmed that Russia is open for dialogue with the USA on the most wide-ranging agenda.” The Kremlin said it is especially interested in discussing Trump’s plans to withdraw from a Cold War-era nuclear weapons agreement. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov reportedly said the ball was in Trump’s court to organize a meeting in 2019. “The issue should be addressed to Washington. Both our president and his representatives have said that we are ready for the talks when Washington is ready for it,” he reportedly said.
