Lavrov on Putin-Trump meeting in Da Nang: schedules being coordinated

Russian President Vladimir Putin is prepared for holding a meeting with his US counterpart Donald Trump on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit and their schedules are being coordinated, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said.

"We hear Donald Trump’s statements that he plans to hold this meeting with President Putin and President Putin is ready for this," Lavrov recalled, adding that the Americans know about this.

"The protocol services are in contact, and when the leaders’ schedules are finally clear, you will be told about this," Russia’s top diplomat stressed.

Lavrov added that his contacts with US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson could be held as well, but that will be possible only on the sidelines of the APEC summit on November 10-11, since Tillerson is accompanying the US president during his Asian tour. 

"Tillerson will arrive here only with President Trump, that’s why we will contact already during the summit directly," TASS cited Lavrov as saying.

When asked what issues are expected to be discussed, Lavrov explained that these will be all issues on the agenda. "These will include both bilateral ties, which should be mended thoroughly after the team of [previous US President Barack] Obama worked hard to worsen them, and international relations, Syria, North Korea and Ukraine," he added.

Trump is in South Korea on Wednesday and will be travelling to China after that. 

The US president is expected to arrive in Da Nang on November 10.