Bolton Going to Moscow

News  |  Jun 21, 2018

President Trump's National Security Advisor John Bolton will be traveling to Russia "in the next few days," a trip verified by the White House only after the Kremlin broke the news. 

Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty:

"On June 25-27, U.S. National Security Adviser John Bolton will meet with U.S. allies in London and Rome to discuss national security issues, and travel to Moscow to discuss a potential meeting between Presidents Trump and Putin," Garrett Marquis, special assistant to the president, wrote on Twitter.

Bolton's specific itinerary was not immediately released.

The U.S. comments come hours after Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov had indicated to reporters that Bolton would visit Moscow.

"As far as we know, such a trip will actually take place. This is all that we can say right now," Peskov told reporters on June 21 when asked whether Moscow was expecting Bolton's visit.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Russia was "ready for contacts" with the United States.

"If the agreement on a high-level meeting is reached, it will be announced," Lavrov added.

As for that potential meeting between Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin, it is looking likely it will take place in July. 

Bloomberg Politics:

“We’re looking at the possibility,” Trump said Thursday during a White House meeting with governors. The Putin summit is planned during a Trump visit to Europe already announced, according to two people familiar with the matter.

Two possibilities for the meeting are either before a NATO summit in Brussels on July 11 or after Trump’s visit to Britain on July 13, one of the people said. Both people asked not to be identified discussing the plans because they aren’t final.

U.S. Says National Security Adviser Bolton To Visit Moscow (RFERL)

Trump Plans July Meeting With Vladimir Putin (Bloomberg Politics)