Donald Trump is floating the idea of a pre-election meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin. NBC News is reporting the meeting could take place next month in New York.
“The goal of a summit would be for the two leaders to announce progress towards a new nuclear arms control agreement between the U.S. and Russia, the people familiar with the discussions said. One option under consideration is for the two leaders to sign a blueprint for a way forward in negotiations on extending New START, a nuclear arms control treaty between the U.S. and Russia that expires next year, three of the people familiar with the discussions said.”
Sources tell NBC that Trump wants to use the opportunity to “look presidential.”
“He wants it to show his deal-maker abilities,” one of them said. “It’s just a big stage.”
Aides are reportedly concerned that a meeting would be bad politically Trump so close to the election. Trump has had numerous phone calls with the Russian leader but the top of election interference and bounty paid by Moscow to assassinate U.S. troops in Afghanistan has reportedly not been discussed.