Leonid Slutsky, head of the Russian Duma international affairs committee and chairman of the Liberal Democratic Party of Russia (LDPR), said that preparations for the meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and his American counterpart Donald Trump are at an “advanced stage“ and will take place this or next month, Reuters and DPA reported, quoted by BTA, citing a statement by the MP to Russian media.
“February or March“, Slutsky told the Russian news agency Interfax, commenting on the date of the potential meeting. "We don't want to speculate," he said, adding that the two should have "the opportunity to prepare carefully and thoroughly, but the meeting will take place soon."
By this time, Trump and Putin have repeatedly publicly declared their readiness to agree on a solution to the Ukrainian conflict at a meeting. However, no place or date has been set for such talks.
To date, the Kremlin has only confirmed that contacts are currently being held between the Russian and American sides, but has not provided any details.
Slutsky, who also participated in the first negotiations to resolve the war that Russia began nearly three years ago with its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, now hopes that the Putin-Trump meeting will be constructive.
“It will be dedicated to Ukraine, the Middle East and, more generally, to issues of world politics and international relations in the near future. I am sure that this meeting will be a milestone,“ said Slutsky.