WASHINGTON — President Trump hopes to meet with President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia in the next few weeks even as the American leader increasingly clashes with European allies over how to counter Moscow’s assertive actions in Europe and the Middle East. Mr. Trump is sending his national security adviser, John R. Bolton, to Moscow next week to discuss a possible meeting. Mr. Trump is already scheduled to attend a NATO summit meeting in Brussels next month, followed by a long-delayed visit to Britain. He could presumably add a stop in another country like Austria to see Mr. Putin. Mr. Trump has been eager to get together with Mr. Putin for months despite increasing tension in the relationship between Russia and the West. Just two weeks ago, Mr. Trump urged the rest of the Group of 7 major industrial powers to readmit Russia, which was expelled in 2014 after its armed seizure of Crimea from Ukraine. But the other members rejected the idea, deeming it inappropriate. By meeting with Mr. Putin on his own anyway, Mr. Trump would send a signal to European leaders that he does not intend to be held hostage to their approach to Moscow, adding another rupture to his fights with the United States’ traditional allies over tariffs, security and migration. In recent public comments, he has emphasized the importance of building a friendly relationship with Mr. Putin and minimized the continuing dispute over Ukraine, blaming Russia’s actions on former President Barack Obama.<doc-sep>At the time, top aides in the National Security Council opposed the idea of a meeting and said they didn't view Trump's interest in a summit as an order to set one up. "They decided: Let's wait and see if he raises it again," said the official, who like others spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss a sensitive issue. Putin and Trump have met previously on the sidelines of international gatherings, but a one-on-one summit would be the first of its kind since the US-Russia relationship plunged to historic lows after Moscow's military intervention in Ukraine. Trump's insistence on a summit stems from his view that together, the two men can resolve major geopolitical issues in the Middle East and Europe. When asked about a potential meeting, Putin's spokesman Dmitry Peskov said "we don't exclude" the possibility but that no specifics have been discussed, the Associated Press reported. On Thursday, a senior White House official in charge of Europe, Richard Hooker, told the Russian news agency Tass that the White House was exploring the idea of a meeting in Austria, which boasts close ties with Washington and Moscow. Trump's success in advancing the summit planning marks a victory over his aides, who have pushed him to embrace a number of hawkish policies toward Russia that he has later regretted. In April, the Trump administration imposed sweeping sanctions against Russian oligarchs, sending shock waves through the Russian economy. In March, Trump ordered the largest US expulsion of Russian officials in history, although he later accused his aides of misleading him about the size of the purge. Last year, he approved the transfer of anti-tank missiles to Ukraine, but scolded his aides after the policy decision became public. Now, Trump has become a strong public advocate for engagement with Russia. On Friday, he repeated his view that Russia should be reinstated in the group of industrial economies formerly known as the Group of Eight. "I think it's better to have Russia in than to have Russia out. Because just like North Korea, just like somebody else, it's much better if we get along with them," Trump said. Russia was expelled from the group after it annexed Crimea in 2014, a military intervention Trump blamed on President Barack Obama. "President Obama lost Crimea because President Putin didn't respect President Obama, didn't respect our country and didn't respect Ukraine," Trump said Friday. Most US allies view the land grab as a clear breach of international law that was solely the responsibility of Putin. Senior officials at the State Department have acknowledged that a meeting between the two leaders could, in theory, help resolve long-standing differences on Ukraine, Syria, cybersecurity issues and interference in foreign elections. But some of those officials have said a summit between the two leaders is premature given the lack of progress on resolving minor issues, such as the return of Russian dachas on the East Coast, which were seized as punishment for Moscow's interference in the election. "There's no doubt that both sides would be very interested in seeing this summit materialise, but it's not going to materialise out of thin air," said a senior State Department official. "Personally, I would be very reluctant to put my president into a meeting where he has to talk about dachas, or he has to talk about staffing patterns at embassies. . . . There is a lot of work that has to be done ahead of a meeting like this." John Herbst, a Russia expert at the Atlantic Council, said the internal tension over the summit follows a pattern of clashes between Trump and his aides on Russia. "He has chosen advisers who are all hawkish on Russia," he said. "Meanwhile, he's trying to pursue a policy with Russia that is disadvantageous in the current political environment. This has played out consistently since he took power." Stent said a meeting between Putin and Trump could be beneficial, but noted that it would probably create discomfort at the NATO gathering. "At least there will be more contact. It's dangerous having so few contacts given the proximity of fighting in Syria." Still, she doubted the opportunities for real progress. "The two men will come out of a meeting saying we agreed to cooperate on Syria and counterterrorism and Ukraine," she said. "That doesn't mean those things will happen, but that's what they'll agree to do." Huntsman, the US ambassador, is among the few Trump officials who have actively supported engagement with Russia. He has been organising a trip to the country by Republican senators, including, Richard Shelby of Alabama, John Neely Kennedy of Louisiana and John Hoeven of North Dakota. Huntsman "wants some senators to come over to understand what's going on," Hoeven told The Washington Post. "We're still working on the details." A State Department official declined to discuss the rationale for the trip but said Huntsman "has consistently supported more dialogue, not less, with Russian officials." The State Department declined to say if any Democrats were invited to join the latest trip.<doc-sep>Secretary for Defense Jim Mattis also accused China of “harboring long-term designs to rewrite the existing global order,” in the mold of the Ming dynasty. | Virginia May/AP Photo Mattis talks tough on Russia as Trump weighs Putin summit Defense Secretary Jim Mattis blasted Russia on Friday for its disruptive actions on the world stage — even as the commander in chief seeks closer ties with Russian President Vladimir Putin. “Putin seeks to shatter NATO,” Mattis warned in a commencement address at the U.S. Naval War College in Newport, Rhode Island. “He aims to diminish the appeal of the Western democratic model and attempts to undermine America’s moral authority. His actions are designed not to challenge our arms at this point but to undercut and compromise our belief in our ideals.” Talking tough on Russia is nothing new for Mattis, whose Pentagon released a new National Defense Strategy in January that outlined an impending great power competition with Russia and China. But the remarks offered a stark departure from President Donald Trump, who has long sought a friendlier relationship with Putin despite the investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 U.S. election clouding his presidency. Trump is pushing anew for a summit with Putin after his historic meeting with North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un earlier this week. Trump told reporters on Friday that “it’s possible” he will meet with Putin this summer. “While a possible new avenue to peace now exists with North Korea, we remain vigilant regarding pursuit of nuclear weapons anywhere in the world,” Mattis said Friday. Experts have warned that a new nuclear arms race may be brewing among the U.S., Russia and China. POLITICO Playbook newsletter Sign up today to receive the #1-rated newsletter in politics Email Sign Up By signing up you agree to receive email newsletters or updates from POLITICO and you agree to our privacy policy and terms of service. You can unsubscribe at any time and you can contact us here. This sign-up form is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. Mattis also accused China of “harboring long-term designs to rewrite the existing global order,” in the mold of the Ming dynasty. But his harshest words were reserved for Russia, whose skepticism of NATO and existing international systems Trump has sometimes shared. “We see the Russian Federation as the nation closest to us in nuclear parity, and [it has] proven willing to use conventional and irregular power in violation of international norms,” Mattis warned. “For the first time since World War II, Russia’s been the nation that has redrawn international borders by force of arms in Georgia and Ukraine, while pursuing veto authority over their neighbors’ diplomatic, economic and security decisions.” Just hours earlier, Trump had pinned blame for the annexation of Crimea on former President Barack Obama, not Putin.<doc-sep>
President Donald Trump reportedly asked aides to set up a US-Russia summit after an informal chat with Vladimir Putin in November. Top aides from the National Security Council reportedly sidelined Trump's request by ignoring and waiting to see if he brought the subject again. Trump has been criticized for his outreach to Russia, particularly after the Obama administration severed US-Russian ties following Putin's annexation of Crimea. Trump is reportedly expected to meet Putin during the NATO summit in July. Top aides from the National Security Council reportedly sidelined President Donald Trump's request for a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin by ignoring and waiting to see if he brought the subject again, according to a Washington Post report published on Friday. Trump privately asked aides to set up a US-Russia meeting after an informal chat with Putin during the the Asia-Pacific summit at Vietnam in November, US officials said. Trump shook hands and spoke briefly with Putin. "After that meeting, the president said he wanted to invite Putin to the White House," one official said to The Post. "We ignored it." National Security Council aides were reportedly hesitant to oblige that request, and decided to "wait and see if he raises it again," an official told The Post. Trump has been criticized for his outreach to Russia before, during, and after his 2016 election, because of that country's role in meddling with the US electorate via elaborate influence campaigns on social media. In March, public backlash was especially fierce after Trump called Putin to congratulate him on his reelection victory, a move that Trump's aides advised against. Some lawmakers sought to remind Trump that elections aren't exactly fair in Russia. "I called President Putin of Russia to congratulate him on his election victory (in past, Obama called him also)," Trump claimed in a tweet following the widespread rebuke. Trump is expected to meet Putin for the NATO summit in July, several officials said to The Post. On Friday, Trump told reporters that a summit with Putin could be "possible."