Russia is ready to hold a meeting between President Vladimir Putin and former US leader Donald Trump in the Hungarian capital Budapest, provided the meeting is well-prepared and builds on the agreements reached at their meeting in Alaska, the Russian Foreign Ministry said today, quoted by Reuters, BTA reports.
The two presidents met on August 15 in Anchorage, Alaska. Although a new meeting was planned in Budapest last month, it was canceled.
Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said that contacts between Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio would continue if necessary.
Zakharova also rejected statements by German Lieutenant General Alexander Zolfranc, who commented on the possibility of a conflict between Russia and Germany. Zolfranc had previously said that Russia's decision to attack a NATO country would depend on the reaction of Western allies, adding that Moscow "has the capabilities and combat power to launch a small attack tomorrow."
According to Zakharova, Russia has no plans to attack any NATO country. She stressed that Moscow's actions are aimed at ensuring its own security at a time when the alliance is deploying forces close to Russia's borders.
"What did he say?" Zakharova commented on Zolfranc's words, describing such statements as a "planned campaign of psychological manipulation of the population" aimed at "instilling fear" and justifying "incorrect forecasts, mistakes and even crimes" by NATO.