Putin: ‘Fierce’ US politics standing in way of summit with Trump

Vladimir Putin on Monday reportedly said “fierce” American politics are hurting the chances of a meeting between the Russian leader and President Trump.

“You have to ask our colleagues in the USA. In my view it is the consequence of the fierce domestic political contest in the United States,” Putin said when asked about a summit, according to Reuters.

{mosads}Putin’s comments come after The Wall Street Journal reported Friday that the Trump administration is gearing up for a possible meeting with Putin.

But Dmitry Peskov, a spokesperson for Putin, on Monday said the Kremlin has yet to speak with the Trump administration regarding the gathering.

“We feel a deficit of initiative (from the U.S. side),” said Peskov, as reported by Reuters.

The possible U.S.-Russia summit would follow the planned meeting between Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un on June 12 in Singapore. 

Trump last month announced the cancellation of the summit, but negotiators resurrected the meeting, aimed at discussing North Korea’s nuclear program.

The Trump administration earlier this year announced it would enact economic sanctions on Russia in response to the country’s attempts to interfere in the 2016 presidential election. 

Special counsel Robert Mueller and his team for the last year have been investigating Russia’s election interference and any potential ties between the Trump campaign and Moscow.