President Trump Donald John TrumpBiden on Trump's refusal to commit to peaceful transfer of power: 'What country are we in?' Romney: 'Unthinkable and unacceptable' to not commit to peaceful transition of power Two Louisville police officers shot amid Breonna Taylor grand jury protests MORE will meet Russian President Vladimir Putin on July 16 in Helsinki, Finland, the White House announced Thursday, an opportunity for both leaders to form a closer relationship despite heightened tensions between their countries.

“The two leaders will discuss relations between the United States and Russia and a range of national security issues,” the White House said in a statement.

The high-stakes meeting will take place at the end of Trump’s previously scheduled trip to Europe next month, which includes a summit with NATO allies on July 11-12 in Brussels and a stop in the United Kingdom on July 13. Putin plans to attend the World Cup final on July 15 in Moscow.

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The White House and the Kremlin made the joint announcement one day after U.S. national security adviser John Bolton held talks with Putin and other Russian officials to finalize plans for the summit.

Trump has long sought to form a personal friendship with his Russian counterpart in an effort to resolve longstanding problems, such as election interference and Moscow’s involvement in Syria and Ukraine, and he has heaped praise on Putin ever since taking office.

About half an hour before the summit was announced, Trump tweeted that Russia continues to deny it interfered in the 2016 presidential election and repeated his criticisms of former FBI Director James Comey James Brien ComeyDemocrats fear Russia interference could spoil bid to retake Senate Book: FBI sex crimes investigator helped trigger October 2016 public probe of Clinton emails Trump jabs at FBI director over testimony on Russia, antifa MORE and Trump's one-time Democratic opponent, Hillary Clinton Hillary Diane Rodham ClintonDemocratic groups using Bloomberg money to launch M in Spanish language ads in Florida The Hill's Campaign Report: Presidential polls tighten weeks out from Election Day More than 50 Latino faith leaders endorse Biden MORE.

“Russia continues to say they had nothing to do with Meddling in our Election! Where is the DNC Server, and why didn’t Shady James Comey and the now disgraced FBI agents take and closely examine it? Why isn’t Hillary/Russia being looked at? So many questions, so much corruption!” he wrote.

That message cast doubt on reassurances from Bolton and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo Michael (Mike) Richard PompeoTreasury sanctions individuals, groups tied to Russian malign influence activities Navalny released from hospital after suspected poisoning Overnight Defense: Pentagon redirects pandemic funding to defense contractors | US planning for full Afghanistan withdrawal by May | Anti-Trump GOP group puts ads in military papers MORE, who both said they were confident Trump would raise the issue of election meddling with Putin. The U.S. intelligence community unanimously concluded that Russia interfered in the 2016 contest in order to aid Trump and hurt Clinton.

The president’s decision to stage a summit with the Russian leader is sure to irk U.S. allies in Europe and members of Congress, who fear Trump is taking actions that could break apart the post-World War II international order.

Trump chastised traditional U.S. partners Canada and Germany on trade during a contentious Group of Seven summit earlier this month and has consistently questioned the value of the NATO alliance because he believes member nations are not spending enough on defense.

The Trump-Putin summit will likely spark criticism at home as well, since it will take place as special counsel Robert Mueller Robert (Bob) MuellerCNN's Toobin warns McCabe is in 'perilous condition' with emboldened Trump CNN anchor rips Trump over Stone while evoking Clinton-Lynch tarmac meeting The Hill's 12:30 Report: New Hampshire fallout MORE continues to investigate whether Trump’s team colluded with Moscow to interfere in the last presidential contest.

Trump again took aim at the special counsel in a tweet following the summit announcement, asking “when is Bob Mueller going to list his Conflicts of Interest?”

“Why has it taken so long? Will they be listed at the top of his $22,000,000 Report...And what about the 13 Angry Democrats, will they list their conflicts with Crooked H?”

Mueller is a Republican who was appointed by Trump’s hand-picked deputy attorney general, Rod Rosenstein Rod RosensteinDOJ kept investigators from completing probe of Trump ties to Russia: report Five takeaways from final Senate Intel Russia report FBI officials hid copies of Russia probe documents fearing Trump interference: book MORE.

Speaking on Wednesday in Moscow, Bolton said it is “complete nonsense” to think the meeting proves that there is something untoward about the Trump-Putin relationship.

"The president determined that, despite the political noise in the U.S., direct communication between him and President Putin was in the interest of the United States, in the interest of Russia, and in the interest of peace and security around the world,” he said.

--Updated at 8:57 a.m.