A senior U.S. official is denying the Kremlin's claims that a summit is being planned between President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin, The Wall Street Journal reported.
The denial comes after Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov had said that practical preparations have started for a meeting between the two leaders, Russian news agencies said. But Ryabkov added there was "no agreement yet as to the time and place."
Amid questions in Washington about contacts between Trump associates and the Kremlin, the U.S. official said no such preparations are under way, according to the Journal.
Congressional committees are investigating Russia's reported meddling in the 2016 presidential election.
And another hot-button issue includes conversations between former national security adviser Mike Flynn and Sergey Kislyak, Russia's ambassador to the United States, the newspaper said. Flynn was forced to resign after acknowledging he mischaracterized his contract with Kislyak.
The newspaper noted there are also reports that alleged ties between other Trump associates and Moscow are under scrutiny. But the White House has disputed some of those reports.
Putin has said he was ready to meet with the Trump in a third country, Slovenia, the home nation of First Lady Melania Trump, but the president never responded.
Still, there are two summits of world leaders in the coming months that could bring Trump and Putin together, the newspaper said.
But Politico reported that some are claiming that Trump has been looking to put some "daylight between himself and Russia to silence his critics."
© 2026 Newsmax. All rights reserved.