Russia confirms Putin-Trump talks

The Kremlin has confirmed the meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and his US counterpart in Buenos Aires on Saturday on the sidelines of the G20 summit.

The two presidents will discuss bilateral relations, disarmament and regional issues including this week's dispute between Russia and Ukraine in the Kerch Strait, Russia's Tass News Agency quoted Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov as saying.

In an earlier interview with The Washington Post, US President Donald Trump said he might cancel the meeting due to the Kerch Strait incident.

But Putin said on Wednesday he hoped to meet Trump at the G20 summit to talk about trade barriers.

Ushakov denied rumors suggesting that the meeting would be canceled, saying the discussion has been prepared with "the use of ordinary communications channels between the two administrations".

"That's why if any additional considerations in this context emerge, we think that we will be informed about these considerations through the above-mentioned channels, rather than mass media," he said.

According to the current schedule, Putin will have a morning breakfast with German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Saturday, and then he will hold several bilateral meetings, including talks with Trump.

But the place and time of the meeting between the two presidents have not been confirmed by the Kremlin.

According to Ushakov, despite various signals coming from Washington, "this meeting is equally important for both sides".

"It is certainly vital from the viewpoint of further developments in the world," he said.

Speaking on the format of the upcoming talks, Ushakov noted that it will be a one-on-one meeting, and then key members of both delegations will join the dialogue.

"The talks, their content and duration fully depend on the leaders, they will choose the key issues for discussion," Ushakov said, adding that Moscow expects the talks in Buenos Aires to be a follow-up to the Helsinki summit.

Ushakov said Washington has received Russia's proposals on building dialogue in arms control.

"We believe that in a situation when the Americans have withdrawn from the Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty, and signals that they will stop their participation in the INF Treaty, certainly, it is very important to discuss together the options of a renewed system of ensuring international security," he said.

One of the key issues on the agenda will be the relations between Moscow and Washington, and "what both sides need to do to lead these relations out of the deadlock and start looking for ways to normalize them".

According to the Kremlin aide, there is enough time to discuss all these issues. "But the presidents will use the time as they like and the duration of the talks depends on their nature," Ushakov said.

renqi@chinadaily.com.cn

(China Daily 11/30/2018 page11)