Putin: On the phone to Trump on Saturday. TASS photo
Russian leader Vladimir Putin and new US President Donald Trump plan to hold a phone conversation on Saturday, the Russian news agency TASS has confirmed, quoting Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov.
“Yes, I confirm this,” Peskov told TASS.
US media reports earlier stated that Trump, who was sworn in as the 45th US president on January 20, will hold a phone conversation with Putin on Saturday.
Trump said in a Fox News interview on Thursday he planned to have a phone conversation with Putin in the coming days. “He [Putin] called me after I won, but I haven’t had a discussion, but I understand we will be having a discussion soon,” he stated.
The United States leader also stated that it would be mutually beneficial for Washington and Moscow to have improved ties.
Putin and Trump
“I don’t know Putin, but if we can get along with Russia that’s a great thing, it’s good for Russia, it’s good for us,” Trump stated.
“We go out together and knock the hell out of ISIS [the Islamic State terrorist group outlawed in Russia.”
Russia from US intelligence reports was accused of influencing the United States November election in favour of Trump by organising a malicious hacking of the emails of top Democrats, in charge of Hillary Clinton’s campaign. In addition, several aides of Trump were said to have maintained lines of communications with the Russians during and after the election.
Former President Barack Obama, acting on the report of hacking expelled 35 Russian diplomats from the United States. Russia has refrained from taking a retaliatory action, hoping that Trump will rectify what Obama did.
On Thursday, Theresa May, the British prime minister who began a visit to the United States, encouraged Trump to engage with the Russians.
But she also warned Trump, ‘beware’.
“When it comes to Russia, as so often it is wise to turn to the example of President Reagan who – during negotiations with his opposite number Mikhail Gorbachev – used to abide by the adage ‘trust but verify’,” she told the Republican party at a retreat in Philadelphia.
“With President Putin, my advice is to ‘engage but beware’, May added.
May, who arrived in the United States on a two-day visit Thursday, will become the first foreign leader to meet US President Donald Trump since his inauguration a week ago.
“There is nothing inevitable about conflict between Russia and the West. And nothing unavoidable about retreating to the days of the Cold War. But we should engage with Russia from a position of strength,” said the UK prime minister, who became the first serving foreign leader from outside the United States to speak at the Philadelphia event.