LJUBLJANA, Slovenia (AP) – As Melania Trump prepares to move into the White House, the future first lady’s native Slovenia is offering to serve as a mediator between her husband and Russian President Vladimir Putin once Donald Trump takes office.
Slovenia’s Prime Minister Miro Cerar said in an interview with The Associated Press on Monday that the tiny Alpine state where Melania Trump was born and raised “could become a bridge between the two superpowers,” which have been at odds over a number of issues.
Although a member of the European Union and abiding by the bloc’s sanctions against the Kremlin for its role in undermining Ukraine, Slovenia has maintained warm relations with Slavic ally Russia. Putin has twice visited Slovenia on rare visits by the Russian leader to Western states.
During the U.S. presidential campaign, Trump and Putin expressed respect for each other.
“If the United States and Russia give some initiative in this way, Slovenia could of course become a bridge between the two superpowers,” Cerar said. “We proved that we are quite capable of organizing such meetings.”