Kremlin comments on possible Putin-Trump meeting in Beijing
Russia is ready to discuss holding talks between Presidents Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump should the latter attend commemorative events in Beijing in September, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov stated on Monday.
The Chinese capital will host a military parade on September 3 to mark the 80th anniversary of the end of World War Two. Putin has already accepted an invitation to attend.
Speculation has grown over a possible meeting involving Putin, Trump, and Chinese President Xi Jinping during the celebrations. Japan’s Kyodo News reported that the Chinese government has decided to invite Trump, while The Times suggested that Beijing is positioning itself to host a trilateral summit. Chinese officials have not confirmed the reports.
“If it so happens that [Trump] is there, then, of course, we cannot rule out that the question of the expediency of holding a meeting will be raised,” Peskov told reporters on Monday, noting that the Kremlin has not yet heard whether Trump is going to Beijing.
The day before the Kremlin spokesman said that although a meeting between the two would definitely happen in the future, it would require a lot of preparation, and the time has not yet come.
The speculation followed a phone call between Trump and Xi in June, during which the US president said he had been invited to visit China, though no date was specified.
Putin and Trump have spoken by phone multiple times in recent months, focusing on efforts to resolve the Ukraine conflict. Trump recently criticized Putin, accusing him of resisting a settlement. The Kremlin responded by saying it viewed the criticism calmly and intended to maintain dialogue with Washington.
Beijing has continued to position itself as a neutral party in the Ukraine conflict. Foreign Minister Wang Yi has called for a “fair, lasting, and binding” peace agreement and urged all sides to prioritize a ceasefire and political dialogue. China has also expressed support for renewed direct talks between Moscow and Kiev.
The last time Putin and Trump met in person was during the 2018 Russia-US Summit in Helsinki, Finland.
