Trump sends Pompeo to Russia to meet with Vladimir Putin and Sergei Lavrov, May 12-14

The administration of Donald Trump is sending Secretary of State Mike Pompeo to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Sochi, Russia, on May 12-14, says the U.S. State Department.

What could they possibly be planning to discuss? Iran, North Korea, Venezuela, and winning the 2020 election, my top guesses.

Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov will be present, too.

The meeting represents the highest-level formal talks between the powers in 10 months, the State Department says.

Meanwhile, Rudy Giuliani is in Ukraine drumming up support for Trump's mandatory re-election.

At least they're being transparent about it this time, no?

If this is what Rudy is doing in Ukraine this week what is Pompeo doing in Russia next week? https://t.co/eS1jlL74DJ

- Simon Rosenberg (@SimonWDC) May 10, 2019

Pompeo to meet with Putin and Lavrov next Tuesday in Sochi, Russia. https://t.co/CcUWHDLUra

- Mark Knoller (@markknoller) May 10, 2019

New: State Dept confirms Secretary of State Pompeo will travel to Russia next week and meet with Vladimir Putin and Foreign Minister Lavrov. pic.twitter.com/8Lng5Gtpks

- Conor Finnegan (@cjf39) May 10, 2019

It will be interesting to see whether Pompeo stops in Kyiv after Russia, or whether Trump has left Ukraine brief to Giuliani to kick around as a political football.

- Lucian Kim (@Lucian_Kim) May 10, 2019