Trump's national security adviser says he's preparing for talks with Putin
US President-elect Donald Trump is preparing for talks with Russian leader Vladimir Putin. This was reported by Trump's national security adviser Mike Waltz on January 12.
"We haven't discussed a specific format yet, we're working on it. In the coming days or weeks, I expect there will be a phone conversation. That will be the first step, we'll start there," he told ABC News.
"In President Trump's view, you can't make a deal unless you have a defined relationship and dialog with the other side (Russia), and we will certainly establish that in the coming months," Waltz added.
Earlier in the day, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said he welcomed Trump's plans to meet with Putin. He called the likelihood of their meeting "not bad news."
Before that, the newspaper Le Temps, citing the head of information service of the Swiss Foreign Ministry, Nicolas Bidot, reported that Switzerland is ready to organize a meeting of the heads of state, if they ask for it.
About the preparation of a meeting with the Russian President Trump himself announced on January 9 at his residence in Mar-a-Lago (Florida) before a meeting with governors. The American leader-elect added that he plans to hold all meetings after the inauguration on January 20.
Later, on January 10, First Deputy Chairman of the State Duma's Foreign Affairs Committee Alexei Chepa called the possible meeting between Putin and Trump significant. According to the deputy, Russia would like the United States to change its views on the security of Russia, Europe and the future of NATO.
In turn, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on January 10 that Russia does not have certain conditions for negotiations with the United States.
The special operation to protect Donbass, the start of which Putin announced on February 24, 2022, continues. The decision was taken against the backdrop of the worsening situation in the region.
Переведено сервисом «Яндекс Переводчик»
