Russian President Vladimir Putin said Friday that he invited President Trump to Moscow for a second summit, upping the ante after Mr. Trump postponed an invite to the White House because of the ongoing Russia collusion probe.
Mr. Putin said he understood Mr. Trump’s desire to meet, but they need the “appropriate conditions” for another get-together.
“We are ready for such meetings. We are ready to invite President Trump to Moscow. Be my guest. He has such an invitation, I told him that,” Mr. Putin said at a press conference in South Africa, where he is attending an economic conference.
The Russian leader appeared to shrug off Mr. Trump’s political problems at home.
“Despite the difficulties, in this particular case difficulties linked to the internal political situation in the United States, life goes on and our contacts continue,” he said.
White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders said they had not received a formal invitation.
“President Trump looks forward to having President Putin to Washington after the first of the year, and he is open to visiting Moscow upon receiving a formal invitation,” she said in a statement.
Mr. Trump suffered fierce criticism from Democrats and Republicans for his kid-glove treatment of Mr. Putin at their July 16 summit in Helsinki.
The U.S. president had repeatedly cleaned up his remarks after a post-summit press conference where questions included Russia’s meddling in the 2016 presidential election. He also continues to be dogged by special counsel Robert Mueller’s probe into Trump campaign collusion with Moscow during the race, although after two years no evidence of election misdeeds have been revealed.
Mr. Trump invited Mr. Putin for a follow-up meeting at the White House. He later postponed it until next year, saying he wanted Mr. Mueller’s probe to be concluded first.
Mr. Putin said he’s ready for another meeting.
“Regarding our meetings, I understand very well what President Trump said. He has a desire to have further meetings,” he said.
“I am ready for that. We need for the appropriate conditions to exist, to be created, including in our countries.”
• S.A. Miller can be reached at smiller@washingtontimes.com.
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