President Trump has told the aides that he would like to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin for the November elections, according to a report.
The summit would focus on promoting the two nations’ progress toward reaching a new agreement on nuclear weapons management, NBC News reported Sunday.
Four people familiar with conversations about the potential meeting told the network that several times and locations were being considered, including one option next month in New York City.
At the reported summit, the two leaders would sign a general blueprint explaining how they would proceed on a new arms treaty, also called New START.
New START, the agreement for control over nuclear weapons, expires next year.
Aides to the Commander-in-Chief argued that a summit would give him a chance to see voters’ presidential side and remind them of his ability to secure strong agreements.
‘He wants it to show his dealmaker’s capabilities. It’s just a big stage, “one source told the network.
A White House official added that the president’s team plans to hold more meetings with world leaders in the weeks leading up to the 2020 elections.
Asked about a potential meeting Sunday morning on NBC’s “Meet the Press,” National Security Adviser Robert O’Brien said an invitation from the White House had not yet been extended to the Kremlin.
“We are not holding a meeting with Putin in the United States, but at some point we would like Putin to come here to sign a great arms control agreement that protects Americans and protects Russians,” O’Brien said.
Trump and Putin spoke by telephone last month, about the coronavirus pandemic and a potential three-country nuclear deal with China.
“President Trump reiterated his hope to prevent an expensive three-way arms race between China, Russia and the United States and looked forward to progress on forthcoming arms control negotiations in Vienna,” a White House statement said.
Their conversation came one month after talks on arms control between the two countries’ top negotiators began in Vienna in late June.
Trump wants a big deal that will reduce rising military costs, including to maintain supplies for nuclear weapons.
A spokesman for the Trump administration did not immediately respond to a request for comment from The Post.
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