WASHINGTON, April 2. /TASS/. During their recent telephone call, US President Donald Trump and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin discussed a number of potential venues for their meeting, including the White House, Trump's Press Secretary Sarah Sanders told reporters on Monday.
"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," she said.
Russian Presidential Aide Yuri Ushakov earlier told reporters that during the March 20 telephone conversation, Trump had suggested that Putin visit Washington to hold bilateral talks. "While our presidents were holding the phone conversation, Trump suggested a meeting in Washington. It was Trump who suggested to hold such a meeting," Ushakov noted, adding that there had been no discussion of a timeframe for the meeting.
At the same time, the Kremlin aide pointed out that no preparations for a meeting between Putin and Trump were underway following their telephone call. "After the conversation, which was constructive and business-like and touched upon many issues, there was another breakdown in our bilateral relations, 60 diplomats were expelled, our consulate was closed and Russia had to give a tit-for-tat response to that," Ushakov said. "Since March 20 - the day when the telephone conversation took place - there have been no specific discussions of a possible meeting," Ushakov said. "We would like to believe that preparations for such a meeting will begin," the Kremlin aide said. "We would also like to hope that there would be an end to the steps the Americans have taken based on groundless allegations," he noted, adding that it would make it possible to "launch a very serious and constructive dialogue."