U.S. National Security Adviser John Bolton paid a visit to Moscow to help secure the face-to-face between U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin. A joint announcement about the date and location will be revealed on Thursday.

CGTN’s Lucy Taylor reports from Moscow.

Follow Lucy Taylor on Twitter @lucytaylor

Just last year, Bolton warned that the United States would negotiate with Russia “at its peril”. Now, he has traveled to Moscow as Donald Trump’s National Security Adviser, shaking hands with President Putin. Together, they agreed to the much-anticipated summit between Trump and Putin.

Russian President Vladimir Putin, right, and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov attend talks with U.S. National security adviser John Bolton at the Kremlin in Moscow, Russia, Wednesday, June 27, 2018. (AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko, Pool)

“Russia has never been seeking confrontation and I hope that today we can talk about what can be done from both sides to restore fully-fledged relations based on equality and respect for each other’s’ interests.”

– Russian President Vladimir Putin

The summit is sure to bring criticism from certain corners of Washington. The two sides are at odds over Syria, Russia’s annexation of Ukraine, and not least, alleged Russian interference in U.S. elections. Bolton told reporters it was Trump’s own desire to meet Putin.

U.S. National security adviser John Bolton gestures while speaking to the media after his talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow, Russia, Wednesday, June 27, 2018. (AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko)

“The President recognizes that there may be some criticism of this decision to hold a meeting, you’ve heard some of it here today. But that what must guide his conduct of American foreign policy is the pursuit of American national interest. And he judges correctly in my view that this bilateral summit between himself and President Putin is something he needs to do and will do regardless of political criticism at home.”

– U.S. National Security Adviser John Bolton

Even Bolton has spoken out in the past against negotiating with Russia. However, he knows believes the summit is the best interest of the U.S. He indicated that holding a summit in itself could be regarded as an accomplishment , regardless of what might result from one.