The Russian Foreign Ministry told RIA Novosti President Trump invited Vladimir Putin to the White House more than once when the two leaders spoke on the phone after the Russia election.
The news agency quoted Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov as saying Trump returned to the subject of an invitation a couple of times during a call last month and that Russia was now expecting Trump to formalize the invitation.
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"We proceed from the fact that the U.S. president in a telephone conversation...made such an invitation, said he would be glad to see (Putin) in the White House, would then be glad to meet on a reciprocal visit," said Lavrov, according to a transcript of an interview with RIA on the foreign ministry website.
"He returned to this topic a couple of times, so we let our American colleagues know that we do not want to impose, but we also do not want to be impolite, and that considering that President Trump made this proposal, we proceed from the position that he will make it concrete."
Lavrov that [sic] Trump indicated he could make a reciprocal trip to Russia if Putin were able to accept his invitation to the White House.
Previously, both the White House and the Kremlin had only revealed that Trump had invited Putin to the White House during the same call on March 20.
Lavrov also told Russian state television that Russia and the United States communicated before last week's Syrian missile strike.
Moscow had warned the U.S. before the strike that it could hit back if the U.S. actions jeopardize Russian servicemen in Syria, and the allies had given Russia an advance warning to make sure no Russians were in the line of fire.
The Pentagon said on April 13th there was no coordination with Russia or pre-notification to Russia before the attack.
Russia Says Trump Invited Putin to U.S. During Phone Call (Moscow Times)
Russia: US did not violate red lines during Syria strikes (AP)