And cue the cries of ‘treason’ from the left…
Just a day after praising “courageous and mature” President Trump for his plans to meet with North Korea’s Kim Jong-Un and five days since The Wall Street Journal reported that The White House is planning a summit between Trump and Putin, The Wall Street Journal is now reporting that Putin is seeking a meeting with Trump in Europe.
So which is it WSJ?
Over the weekend, they reported the White House is planning for a potential summit between President Donald Trump and President Vladimir Putin of Russia, “a meeting that would bring to the international stage one of the world’s most enigmatic political relationships.”
Citing sources, the WSJ reports that Former Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman, and current US ambassador to Russia, has been on the front end of talks to bring the world leaders together, an official said.
“This has been an ongoing project of Ambassador Huntsman, stretching back months, of getting a formal meeting between Putin and Trump,” the official said.
Among the numerous potential topics for discussion, any meeting between the two presidents would bring up Syria, Ukraine and nuclear-arms control, with the stated purpose of the summit would be “to resolve longstanding differences.”
And now they are reporting Russian President Vladimir Putin has asked Austria’s chancellor to organize a meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump in Vienna this summer and the White House is pondering the offer, a senior European official said.
So is The White House ‘planning’ a Summit or ‘pondering’ one? Who knows… but it appears to be getting closer to reality.
Chancellor Sebastian Kurz reportedly accepted the request and pledged to approach Mr. Trump, the person said.
“The Austrians have conveyed their willingness to host a meeting between President Trump and President Putin,” a U.S. National Security Council official said.
“And, although the two leaders have previously discussed the possibility of arranging a meeting, we have nothing to announce at this time.”
We noted previously that when asked about a summit taking place amid Mr. Mueller’s investigation, another administration official said, “Of course there are discussions of the political perception.”
The Russia summit “will be focused on specifics, not grand bargaining,” the official said. “Those things need to be negotiated.”
Incidentally, both presidents George W. Bush and Barack Obama, each held summits with Putin within six months of taking office. So far, the “deep state” has managed to withhold Trump from doing the same 16 months into his tenure.
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