According to online reports, Russian Presidential Press Secretary Peskov said on March 17 local time that Russian President Vladimir Putin and US President Trump were preparing for the theme of the agenda, the main topic being mediation of the Ukraine issue. In response to a reporter's question about the preparation time of the call, Peskov said that preparations for similar telephone talks can be completed in a short time. Earlier in the day Peskov said that Putin and Trump would have a phone conversation on March 18. Trump also said on the evening of the 16th local time that he planned to talk to Putin on the 18th.