ABC News: US, Russian Officials: Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin to Speak by Phone on Saturday
President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin will have a telephone conversation this weekend, according to both a senior administration official and the Kremlin.
The call will take place on Saturday, both the U.S. official and Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov confirmed on Friday.
"As it usually happens during such contacts, the sides will naturally exchange opinions on key parameters of the current state of bilateral affairs," Peskov told reporters Friday. "One can hardly expect substantive contacts on the entire range of affairs from this call ... Let us wait and see, let us be patient."
Read more ....
WNU Editor: On the same day President Trump will also be talking with Frenc President Hollande and German Chancellor Merkel .... Trump to speak Saturday with Putin, Merkel and Hollande: W.House (AFP). No one is reporting on what order these phone calls will be made.
Update: I would like to know on who initiated to have a phone call .... Kellyanne Conway: 'I won't divulge' who initiated Trump-Putin call (The Hill).
More News On President Donald Trump And Russian President Vladimir Putin To Speak By Phone This Saturday
Putin-Trump phone talk scheduled for Saturday — Kremlin -- TASS
Kremlin unveils plans for upcoming Putin-Trump phone talks -- TASS
Trump, Putin likely to discuss terrorism, other issues in call: White House aide -- Reuters
Trump Aide Says Easing Russia Sanctions ‘Under Consideration’ -- Bloomberg
Vladimir Putin to speak to Donald Trump by telephone on Saturday -- The Guardian
Putin, Trump plan weekend phone chat -- FOX News
Putin discusses Russian-US relations with Security Council ahead of talks with Trump -- TASS
1 comment:
I would suspect Mr. Trump and his team initiated the idea for the phone call. Nevertheless it seems strange that Ms. Conway won't "divulge" who initiated this.
I suspect that in Russia the US is unpopular for a variety of reasons. So for a leader to be seen reaching out to America would probably be "bad optic" with the Russian people.
Since Mr. Trump has been accused of being a Russian "puppet" or being "illegitimate" because he somehow was helped by the Russians, it may be "bad optics" for Mr. Trump to be seen reaching out to a Russian leader. While the notion of Russian interference is ridiculous and no proof has been provide, the uninformed believe such things hence the secrecy surrounding who initiated this.
Since the US needs this more than Russia does, I think it highly likely team Trump initiated this. The media may want to ratchet up Cold War II. I don't and most Americans, if properly informed, don't either. Unfortunately when one takes a position contrary to the media's position the media's response is often times ruthless and unforgiving.
Until sanctions are lifted, I don't see how any headway can be made in improving this relationship. I would think that would be the necessary precondition for the Russians to "come to the table" to negotiate. While DJT cannot lift sanctions, there are probably some things he can do at the margins that will help. This may be part of what hey are going to be discussing.
Post a Comment