(MENAFN) The Kremlin has said it is open to discussing a potential meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and former US President Donald Trump if Trump attends the upcoming commemorative events in Beijing this September, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov announced on Monday.

Beijing is set to host a military parade on September 3 to mark the 80th anniversary of the end of World War Two, with Putin having already confirmed his attendance. Recent speculation has centered on the possibility of a meeting between Putin, Trump, and Chinese President Xi Jinping during the celebrations. Japan’s Kyodo News reported that China plans to invite Trump, while The Times suggested Beijing is seeking to host a trilateral summit. Chinese officials have yet to confirm these reports.

Peskov told reporters that if Trump is indeed present, “the question of the expediency of holding a meeting will certainly be raised.” However, the Kremlin has not yet received confirmation regarding Trump’s attendance.

The day before, Peskov also stated that while a Putin-Trump meeting is inevitable at some point, it would require thorough preparation and the timing is not yet appropriate.

These rumors have intensified following a June phone call between Trump and Xi, during which Trump claimed he had been invited to visit China, though no date has been specified.

Putin and Trump have had several phone conversations in recent months, primarily focused on the Ukraine conflict. Trump recently criticized Putin for allegedly blocking a settlement. The Kremlin responded by saying it remains calm in the face of such criticism and intends to keep communication channels open with Washington.

China continues to present itself as a neutral actor in the Ukraine conflict. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi has called for a “fair, lasting, and binding” peace deal and has urged all sides to prioritize a ceasefire and political negotiations. Beijing has also expressed support for direct talks between Moscow and Kiev.

Putin and Trump last met face-to-face at the 2018 Russia-US summit in Helsinki.

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