Global Geopolitical Series: Trump invites Putin to Washington for face to face meeting

U.S. President Donald Trump has invited Russian President Vladimir Putin to a face to face meeting in Washington D.C., according to President Putin Presidential aide Yury Ushakov, who said that the invitation was extended by Mr. Trump during the last telephonic conversation between the two. The two Presidents held a call on March 20th, after President Putin decisive victory in the Russian election and they reportedly talked on international terrorism and coordinated efforts to limit the ongoing arms race. President Trump also congratulated President Putin on his election victory which created quite a furor and proposed the idea of meeting face to face in Washington.

However, Mr. Ushakov confirmed that there have been no preparations for a possible meeting between the two as Russia and the United States remain at loggerheads over Skripal poisoning case and expelled as many as 60 diplomats each and closed one embassy each.

If a meeting does take place, it would the third time the two Presidents would meet. Putin and Trump have so far met twice: during the G20 summit in Germany last July and on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in Vietnam in November.