Putin says Trump visit for May 9 military parade would be ‘right step’

Russian President Vladimir Putin said Thursday that it would be the “right step” for President Trump to attend a May military parade in Russia after the U.S. leader said he would consider attending the event. 

“The presence of the leader of a country which made a major contribution to the fight against Nazism at a ceremony marking the end of World War II, even amid a pre-election campaign, would be a right step,” Putin told reporters Thursday, according to Bloomberg News. 

Trump previously said he would like to attend the parade Putin had invited him to earlier this year, but said he might not because it is during 2020 campaign season. 

“I was invited. I am thinking about it. It is right in the middle of our campaign season,” Trump told reporters. 

“It’s a very big deal, celebrating the end of the war,” he added. “I appreciate the invitation, it’s right in the middle of the political season.”

The relationship between Putin and Trump has come under scrutiny, particularly after Trump floated inviting the Russian leader to next year’s Group of Seven summit.