US President Donald Trump proposed a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin at the White House in a recent phone call, but preparations have reportedly stalled over the expulsion of dozens of Russian diplomats from the US.

“When our presidents spoke on the phone, Trump suggested having the meeting in Washington at the White House,” Kremlin foreign policy aide Yuri Ushakov said, referencing a 20 March call in which Mr Trump congratulated the Russian leader on being re-elected.

Mr Ushakov called the proposal an “interesting, positive idea,” but said the two leaders have not made preparations for such a meeting thus far. The policy aide blamed the delay on Mr Trump's decision to expel 60 Russian diplomats last week, which formed part of a larger international response to Moscow’s alleged use of a nerve agent in the attempted murder of an Russian ex-spy, Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia, in the UK town of Salisbury.

Around 150 Russian diplomats have been expelled from more than two dozen nations in solidarity with Britain, who blame Russia for the poisoning. The Kremlin has denied Russian involvement.

"Against the backdrop of these events, it's difficult to discuss the possibility of holding a summit," Mr Ushakov said, according to Russian news agencies.

White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders confirmed that a White House meeting had been discussed, saying in a statement: “As the President himself confirmed on March 20, hours after his last call with President Putin, the two had discussed a bilateral meeting in the ‘not-too-distant future’ at a number of potential venues, including the White House."

Countries join UK expelling Russian diplomats over spy poisoning Show all 24 1 /24 Countries join UK expelling Russian diplomats over spy poisoning Countries join UK expelling Russian diplomats over spy poisoning United States Donald Trump has expelled 60 Russian diplomats from the US and closed the consulate in response to the Sergei Skripal spy poisoning. AFP/Getty Countries join UK expelling Russian diplomats over spy poisoning Great Britain Prime Minister Theresa May confirmed Britain would be expelling 23 Russian diplomats. AFP/Getty Countries join UK expelling Russian diplomats over spy poisoning Ukraine Ukrainian president Petro Poroshenko has expelled 13 Russian diplomats. Getty Countries join UK expelling Russian diplomats over spy poisoning Germany Germany's Chancellor Angela Merkel has expelled 4 Russian diplomats. AFP/Getty Countries join UK expelling Russian diplomats over spy poisoning France France's President Emmanuel Macron has also expelled 4 Russian diplomats. Reuters Countries join UK expelling Russian diplomats over spy poisoning Poland Poland's President Andrzej Duda has expelled 4 Russian diplomats. AFP/Getty Countries join UK expelling Russian diplomats over spy poisoning Lithuania President of Lithuania Dalia Grybauskaite has expelled 3 Russian diplomats. Getty Countries join UK expelling Russian diplomats over spy poisoning Czech Republic Czech Republic President Milos Zeman has also expelled 3 Russian diplomats. AFP Countries join UK expelling Russian diplomats over spy poisoning Netherlands Netherlands Prime minister Mark Rutte has expelled 2 Russian diplomats. AFP/Getty Countries join UK expelling Russian diplomats over spy poisoning Latvia Prime Minister of Latvia Maris Kucinskis has expelled 1 Russian diplomat. Getty Countries join UK expelling Russian diplomats over spy poisoning Estonia Estonia's Prime Minister Juri Ratas has expelled 1 Russian diplomat. AFP/Getty Countries join UK expelling Russian diplomats over spy poisoning Croatia Croatia President Kolinda Grabar-Kitarovic has expelled 1 Russian diplomat. AFP/Getty Countries join UK expelling Russian diplomats over spy poisoning Italy Italian President Sergio Mattarella has expelled 2 Russian diplomats. Getty Countries join UK expelling Russian diplomats over spy poisoning Canada Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has expelled 4 Russian diplomats. Getty Countries join UK expelling Russian diplomats over spy poisoning Finland Finland's President Sauli Niinisto has expelled 1 Russian diplomat. Reuters Countries join UK expelling Russian diplomats over spy poisoning Denmark Danish Prime Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen has expelled 2 Russian diplomats. AFP/Getty Countries join UK expelling Russian diplomats over spy poisoning Romania Romania's President Klaus Werner Iohannis has expelled 1 Russian diplomat. AFP/Getty Countries join UK expelling Russian diplomats over spy poisoning Norway Norwegian Prime Minister Erna Solberg has expelled 1 Russian diplomat. REUTERS Countries join UK expelling Russian diplomats over spy poisoning Spain Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy has expelled 2 Russian diplomats. Getty Countries join UK expelling Russian diplomats over spy poisoning Sweden Sweden's Prime Minister Stefan Lofven has expelled 1 Russian diplomat. AFP/Getty Countries join UK expelling Russian diplomats over spy poisoning Albania Albanian President Ilir Meta has expelled 2 Russian diplomats. AFP/Getty Countries join UK expelling Russian diplomats over spy poisoning Australia Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has expelled 2 Russian diplomats. Getty Countries join UK expelling Russian diplomats over spy poisoning Macedonia Macedonia President Gjorge Ivanov has expelled 1 Russian diplomat. AFP/Getty Countries join UK expelling Russian diplomats over spy poisoning Hungary President of Hungary Janos Ader has expelled 1 Russian diplomat. AFP/Getty

Mr Trump expelled dozens of diplomats and closed the Russian consulate in Seattle, Washington last Monday, in his strongest retaliatory measure against the country since taking office. It was the biggest ever US expulsion of alleged intelligence officials in one go, and included 48 diplomats attached to the diplomatic mission in Washington and New York, and a further 12 from the Russian mission to the United Nations.

Russian Ambassador to the US Anatoly Antonov called the expulsions “unfortunate,” but said the two countries were “destined to become friends again,” in a video address last week.

Mr Ushakov, the policy aide, echoed this sentiment on Monday, saying he hoped the US had stopped taking action against Russia so that “serious and constructive dialogue” could start.

Trump on Putin: 'We will probably get together in the not-too-distant future'

Mr Trump said last week that he hoped to meet with Mr Putin in the "not too distant future,” to discuss topics such as the global arms race, and situation in North Korea, and Syria.

Mr Trump’s relationship with Russia is under intense scrutiny in the US, where both the Justice Department and Congress have launched investigations into possible collusion between the Kremlin and the US president’s campaign.