Putin aide: Trump meeting not specifically discussed, leaders could meet at APEC in China
In short
Yuri Ushakov, an aide to Russian President Vladimir Putin, said the question of a bilateral meeting between Putin and US President Donald Trump has not yet been specifically discussed. He told journalists that if both leaders attend the APEC summit in China, he assumes they will find an opportunity to cross paths, shake hands and talk.
Read the full story 1 min read
Yuri Ushakov, an aide to Russian President Vladimir Putin, said the question of a bilateral meeting between Putin and US President Donald Trump has not yet been specifically discussed, RIA Novosti and Interfax reported. He made the remarks to journalists in answer to a question about when such a meeting could take place. TASS reported Ushakov as saying the possibility of a meeting was not discussed during the two leaders' conversation. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
"This question was not specifically discussed, but we know that an important international event lies ahead in China, the APEC summit, and in this event, at least at the moment, it can be said that all the leaders, both the Russian and the American, are interested in taking part," Ushakov said, according to Interfax. "Accordingly, if both leaders are at the same international venue, I assume that they will find an opportunity to cross paths, shake hands and talk," he continued. [ 3 ]
Why it matters
The remarks, reported by Russian official and business outlets, indicate that no date or arrangement for a Putin-Trump meeting has been set. Ushakov pointed to the APEC summit in China as a possible occasion for the two leaders to talk.
Key facts
- Yuri Ushakov, an aide to the Russian head of state, said a bilateral meeting between Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump has not yet been specifically discussed. [ 1 , 3 ]
- TASS reported Ushakov as saying the possibility of a Putin-Trump meeting was not discussed during their conversation. [ 2 ]
- Ushakov spoke to journalists in answer to a question about when a meeting between the Russian and US leaders could take place. [ 1 , 3 ]
- Ushakov said both the Russian and the American leaders are, at least at the moment, interested in taking part in the APEC summit in China. [ 3 ]
- He said that if both leaders are at the same international venue, he assumes they will find an opportunity to cross paths, shake hands and talk. [ 3 ]
Confirmed by several sources
Still unclear
- Whether Putin and Trump will both attend the APEC summit in China. Ushakov said both leaders are interested in taking part only 'at least at the moment', and no attendance has been confirmed in the documents.
- When or whether a dedicated bilateral meeting will take place. Ushakov said the question has not been specifically discussed, and no date is given.
What local media are saying
Timeline, local time
- RIA Novosti reports Ushakov's statement that a Putin-Trump bilateral meeting has not been specifically discussed. [ 1 ]
- TASS reports Ushakov as saying a possible meeting was not discussed during the leaders' conversation. [ 2 ]
- Interfax reports Ushakov's remarks that the leaders could meet at the APEC summit in China. [ 3 ]