 "'Preparations at advanced stage': Putin-Trump meeting likely in February or March")
Preparations for a meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and US President Donald Trump are at an “advanced stage,” according to a senior lawmaker quoted by the Russian state news agency RIA on Thursday.
Leonid Slutsky, head of the State Duma’s international affairs committee, indicated that the meeting could occur in February or March.
“The work requires serious preparation, which - I’m not giving away any secret - is currently at an advanced stage,” he said.
Trump and Putin have both said they are keen to hold a meeting whose agenda could include nuclear arms control and global energy prices as well as Trump’s stated aim to bring a swift end to the Ukraine war.
Slutsky said he also expected them to talk about the situation in the Middle East.
He, however, declined to speculate on exactly when a meeting could take place.
“February or March - let’s not guess, and let’s give the leaders the opportunity to prepare for it competently and comprehensively, but it will be soon,” RIA quoted him as saying.
With inputs from agencies
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