John Bolton due to talk possible US-Russia summit

MOSCOW, June 27 (Agencies): US President Donald Trump's national security adviser is due in Moscow to lay the groundwork for a possible US-Russia summit.

National Security Adviser John Bolton will meet Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov on Wednesday. The Kremlin would not say whether Bolton would also meet with President Vladimir Putin.

Anticipation has been high for a possible Trump-Putin meeting as Trump seeks to mend strained relations with Russia. Ties between the two nations have sunk to the lowest point in decades.

Lavrov has said previously that Moscow "is ready for contacts." Vienna, Austria has been mentioned as a possible location for such a meeting.

Putin's spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Tuesday that Bolton's meetings in Moscow would focus on bilateral relations, international stability and regional problems.

Meanwhile, Russian Energy Minister Alexander Novak said on Tuesday he discussed US sanctions on Russia and Moscow's plan to expand its Nord Stream gas pipeline to Germany, which has irked Washington, in talks with US Treasury and Energy Secretaries.