Vladimir Putin‘s aide told Russian news agencies on Monday that President Donald Trump specifically invited Putin to the White House during the call. | Mikahail Klimentyev/Kremlin Pool via AP Photo Trump, Putin discussed possible meeting at White House, administration says

President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin last month discussed potentially meeting at the White House in the near future, a Trump spokesman confirmed Monday, after a Russian aide told foreign news outlets the U.S. leader had extended an invitation.

Yuri Ushakov, a Russian official, told outlets that Trump specifically invited Putin to a meeting at the White House, though he said the two countries had yet to begin preparations for the summit, The Associated Press reported Monday.


Trump administration officials said the pair of leaders discussed several potential locations, including the White House.

“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," White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders said in a statement. "We have nothing further to add at this time.”

The U.S. president congratulated the Russian leader on his recent reelection when the pair spoke last month. The remarks sparked backlash among some members of Congress, who raised concerns about the legitimacy of Putin's electoral victory.

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The president pushed back against the criticism a day after the call, framing it as part of his administration's efforts to develop a stronger relationship with the Russian government.

“I called President Putin of Russia to congratulate him on his election victory (in the past, Obama called him also),” Trump tweeted. “The Fake News Media is crazed because they wanted me to excoriate him. They are wrong! Getting along with Russia (and others) is a good thing, not a bad thing.”

