Russian President Vladimir Putin is ready to meet his U.S. counterpart Donald Trump¹ at the invitation of the United States, but Moscow is waiting for a detailed² proposal, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Friday.

 

俄罗斯外交部长拉夫罗夫周五表示，应美国的邀请普京已准备好会见美国总统特朗普，但莫斯科正在等待一个详细的建议。

 

Trump proposed a meeting with Putin at the White House in a phone conversation on March 20, Lavrov recalled in an interview with Russia Today published on the Russian Foreign Ministry's website, adding that Moscow hopes Trump will give specifics on his invitation.

 

Trump told reporters on the same day of the phone call that he intended to meet Putin "in the not too distant future."

 

However, Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov said earlier this month that the prospects³ of organizing the meeting have not been discussed since then.

 

A new round of U.S. sanctions against Russia and the recent U.S.-led missile strikes on Syria have added uncertainty⁴ to the possible Putin-Trump meeting.

 

As for the risk of a military confrontation⁵ between Russia and the United States, Lavrov said in Friday's interview that he is absolutely confident that Putin and Trump will not allow an armed conflict to happen.

 

He said Russia has noted⁶ that Trump expressed willingness on Twitter and other occasions to solve problems and mend relations with Russia. "It's better than not having those," Lavrov said.

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