WASHINGTON (AP) – President Donald Trump said he wants to meet with Russia’s Vladimir Putin in the “not too distant future” to discuss the “arms race” between Russia and the U.S.
The President also said he wants to discuss Ukraine, North Korea, and Syria with the Russian president.
“I suspect we’ll probably be meeting in the not too distant future to discuss the arms race, which is getting out of control, but we will never allow anybody to have anything even close to what we have,” said Trump in the Oval Office.
The comments came after what he said was a “very good call” with Putin Tuesday morning to congratulate the leader on his re-election Sunday to a fourth six-year term.
The election was tainted by reports of voting irregularities.
Trump’s comments about the controversial election were met with backlash.
Senator John McCain criticized Trump for commending Putin on his win.
An American president does not lead the Free World by congratulating dictators on winning sham elections. And by doing so with Vladimir Putin, President Trump insulted every Russian citizen who was denied the right to vote in a free and fair election. https://t.co/lcQTBi7CA1
— John McCain (@SenJohnMcCain) March 20, 2018
McCain has previously called Putin a murderer and a thug. He’s also pressed the Trump administration to respond aggressively to Russia’s interference in the 2016 U.S. presidential election.
Copyright 2018. Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. WBAP/KLIF contributed to this report.
