The Kremlin released the news Monday that during his congratulatory phone call on March 20th, President Trump invited Vladimir Putin to the White House.
#BREAKING @AFP (Moscow) President Trump has invited President Vladimir Putin to visit the White House: Kremlin
— Andrew Beatty (@AndrewBeatty) April 2, 2018
When asked, the White House did not deny the report:
Putin aide Yury Ushakov told reporters Monday that during a March 20 phone conversation, Trump “suggested that the first meeting could be held in Washington” between the two leaders. “If everything goes well, I hope that the American side would not refuse its proposal to discuss the possibility of organizing the summit talks.”
Ushakov said did not say whether Putin had accepted the proposal and said that no firm negotiations for a summit had yet started, but he said that Russia hopes that one will take place in some form soon, according to Russia's state news agency, TASS.
TASS:
"After the conversation, which was constructive and business-like and touched upon many issues, there was another breakdown in our bilateral relations, 60 diplomats were expelled, our consulate was closed and Russia had to give a tit-for-tat response to that," Ushakov said. "Since March 20 - the day when the telephone conversation took place - there have been no specific discussions of a possible meeting," he added. "In the wake of the recent developments, it would be difficult to discuss a summit," he pointed out. According to Ushakov, since March 20, "there was no time for such discussions and no one to take part in them." However, in his words, Russia believes such an event "would be rather important and beneficial for both countries, as well as for the entire global community."
"We would like to believe that preparations for such a meeting will begin," the Kremlin aide said. "We would also like to hope that there would be an end to the steps the Americans have taken based on groundless allegations," he noted, adding that it would make it to "launch a very serious and constructive dialogue."
Trump offered to host Putin in the White House for summit: Kremlin aide (ABC News)
Trump Invited Vladimir Putin to the White House, Says Kremlin (Daily Beast)
Kremlin aide: Washington summit with Putin was Trump’s idea (TASS)