US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin are allegedly going to meet in Europe, during Trump's European tour, writes Times.
The possibility of such a meeting causes serious concern for the British government, the newspaper said..
According to the Times, many in London fear that such a meeting may show Trump's reluctance to support NATO, and may also cloud his planned visit to Britain.
The newspaper quotes its unnamed high-ranking sources in the British government, according to which the American side plans to hold a summit of Trump and Putin either before the NATO summit scheduled for July 11, or after the US president's visit to Britain - immediately after the meeting with the leaders of NATO countries.
If the meeting with Putin takes place, then, apparently, it will be held in Vienna. The newspaper recalls that Trump already called for the return of Russia to the G-7, which undermines attempts by British Prime Minister Theresa May to strengthen the isolation of Vladimir Putin in connection with the poisoning of the Violins in Salisbury.
In addition, recalls the Times, the US president repeatedly linked US financial support to NATO with trade disagreements with its European allies.
The newspaper also quotes an unnamed high-ranking Western diplomat, according to which, if the meeting between Trump and Putin takes place before the NATO summit, it will be "alarming and unusual". "It would be an extremely unpleasant gesture," continues an unnamed source.
NATO summit to be held in Brussels. The agenda includes strengthening measures to prevent Russian aggression.
"Everyone worries about what's happening, and everyone is afraid for the future of NATO," the newspaper quotes a source in the British government.
A White House employee told the Times that he can not yet provide any information about the meeting between the leaders of the United States and Russia.
However, the former American retired general said that negotiations on this issue are going on, although no date or venue has been set yet, writes Times.