Kremlin hopes to establish ‘working dialogue’ during Trump-Putin meeting

Russia said Wednesday it expects the meeting scheduled later this week between President Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin will create a working dialogue between the two leaders.

“This is the first meeting, the first time the two presidents will get acquainted — this is the main thing about it,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told a conference call with reporters, according to Reuters.

“The expectation is that a working dialogue will be established, which is vitally important for the entire world when it comes to increasing the efficiency of resolving a critical mass of conflicts.”

{mosads}Peskov said Putin will talk about Russia’s stance on Syria and Ukraine, among other issues, according to Reuters.

The meeting will “be a good chance to reiterate Russia’s stance that the Minsk accords have no alternative, that the Minsk accords must be implemented, and that measures must be taken to stop provocations which unfortunately Ukraine’s armed forces are still carrying out,” Peskov said, referring to an agreement between Russia and several Western nations meant to deescalate the conflict in eastern Ukraine between the government and armed separatists.

The Kremlin spokesman’s comments come after the White House on Tuesday confirmed Trump will hold an official bilateral meeting with Putin on the sidelines of the G-20 summit this week.

The Trump-Putin meeting will be the first full-fledged bilateral meeting between a U.S. and Russian leader since former President Barack Obama held tense talks with Putin two years ago. 

The bilateral encounter comes as a special counsel is investigating Russia’s role in the 2016 election.