President's Trump and Putin vow to maintain 'regular personal contact' in their first phone call

29 January 2017

President's Trump and Putin vow to maintain 'regular personal contact' in their first phone call

'We are equals': Trump and Putin vow to maintain 'regular personal contact' in their first call, discuss international terror and peace in the Middle East - but avoid talking about U.S. sanctions against Russia
President Trump spoke with Russian leader Vladimir Putin on the phone today
The 'priority' in their talks was the fight against international terrorism
The Kremlin stated the two have agreed to work closely together and 'develop Russian-American cooperation'
Trump spoke to Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and German Chancellor Angela Merkel earlier
The White House says Trump accepted Merkel's invitation to the Group of 20 economic summit in Hamburg, Germany, in July
Trump invited Abe to a meeting at the White House on February 10th
The call caused many to speculate Trump would lift US sanctions on Russia
Trump is set to speak with French President and Australian Prime Minister

President Trump had his first official phone call with Russian leader Vladimir Putin today in which the two agreed to develop relations 'as equals' and to establish 'real coordination' against the Islamic State group in Syria, the Kremlin said.

During their first official conversation since Trump took office, the two leaders showed 'their readiness for active, joint work to stabilize and develop Russian-American cooperation.'

Describing it as a 'positive' exchange, the Kremlin said they touched on many subjects from the Iranian nuclear deal to the Ukraine and Israeli-Palestinian conflicts, the tensions on the Korean peninsula and trade relations.

The 'priority' in their talks was the fight against international terrorism.

During their first official conversation since Trump took office, Trump and Putin showed 'their readiness for active, joint work to stabilize and develop Russian-American cooperation'

'The presidents said they were in favor of putting in place real coordination of Russian and American actions to destroy IS and the other terrorist groupings in Syria,' the statement said.

They agreed on the need to 'normalize' relations between Moscow and Washington after the tensions during the previous US administration of president Barack Obama over the conflicts in Syria and Ukraine.

The two will begin preparations for a face-to-face meeting.

The Kremlin has applauded Trump's promises to rebuild US-Russian relations. They've been pushed to their worst level since the Cold War by the Ukraine crisis, war in Syria and allegations of Russian meddling in US elections.

Trump also spoke with German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe earlier today.

The White House says Merkel and Trump agree on 'fundamental importance' of NATO to trans-Atlantic relations.

During their 'extensive telephone conversation,' the leaders also discussed the situation in the Middle East and North Africa, relations with Russia and the Ukraine crisis.

In previous remarks Trump has dismissed NATO as 'obsolete,' but British Prime Minister Theresa May, who met with Trump on Friday, said the president assured her he was '100 percent' behind the organization.

Trump and Merkel agreed to deepen German-US relations, and increase cooperation in the fight against terrorism and violent extremism.

US President Donald Trump speaks on the phone with Russia's President Vladimir Putin from the Oval Office, the 'priority' in their talks was the fight against international terrorism the Kremlin sai

White House press secretary Sean Spicer has tweeted that the scheduled call between the two leaders is now underway

The White House says Trump accepted Merkel's invitation to the Group of 20 economic summit in Hamburg, Germany, in July.

He also said he looked forward to welcoming her to Washington soon.

White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer tweeted earlier that the scheduled call between the two leaders was underway. The president's phone conversation with Putin was the third of five calls he has planned with world leaders today.

Trump has said he's open to cooperating with Russia if it helps further American interests abroad.

Trump was noncommittal on Friday about whether he was considering lifting economic sanctions imposed on Moscow by the Obama administration.

The president had phone conversations with Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and German Chancellor earlier today and invited Abe to a meeting at the White House on February 10th, Spicer said.

US President Trump speaks on the phone with President of Russia Vladimir Putin, in the Oval Office. He has chosen the day to talk with different world leaders, significantly Russia's Vladimir Putin and Germany's Angela Merkel by telephone

President Donald Trump spoke on the phone with Chancellor of Germany Angela Merkel in the Oval Office on Saturday and agreed to deepen German-US relations, and increase cooperation in the fight against terrorism and violent extremism

The White House says in a statement that Trump affirmed the 'ironclad US commitment' to Japan's security. The leaders pledged to consult and cooperate on the threat posed by a nuclear-ambitious North Korea.

They also discussed Defense Secretary Jim Mattis' upcoming visit to the region, including Japan.

Abe was the first world leader to meet with Trump after the election.

The scheduled phone call between Putin and Trump has caused concern among European allies and consternation among fellow Republicans about the future of US penalties imposed on Moscow.

Trump has been outspoken about his desire to strengthen ties with Russia and has suggested he is open to lifting sanctions imposed on Moscow by the US government.

Russia's security chief, Nikolai Patrushev said he had high hopes for the telephone call and added 'everything will be positive.'

'We'll see what happens. As far as the sanctions, very early to be talking about that,' he said during his press conference with British Prime Minister Theresa May.

Britain - while part of the European Union - has also punished Russia for its provocations in Ukraine. Voicing the view of many in Europe, May said, 'We believe the sanctions should continue.'

May advised the US to 'to engage, but beware,' with President Putin.

Vice President Mike Pence was expected to join the call, but no others that Trump planned on Saturday with four other world leaders.

Trump will French President François Hollande, and Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull, later today.

Trump's first conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin since taking office is causing concerns over whether the President will lift sanctions imposed by the US on Russia

Republican senators John McCain, chairman of the Armed Services Committee, and Ohio's Rob Portman, a member of the Foreign Relations Committee, also warned the White House about easing any punishments on Moscow and they pledged to turn the sanctions into law.

'I hope President Trump will put an end to this speculation and reject such a reckless course,' McCain said in a statement. 'If he does not, I will work with my colleagues to codify sanctions against Russia into law.'

Portman said lifting the sanctions 'for any reason other than a change in the behavior that led to those sanctions in the first place would send a dangerous message to a world already questioning the value of American leadership and the credibility of our commitments after eight years of Obama administration policies.'

The Kremlin has welcomed Trump's promises to mend ties with Moscow.

But those ties have been strained by the Ukrainian crisis, the war in Syria and allegations of Russian meddling in the US elections.

The president had phone conversations with Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and German Chancellor earlier today and invited Abe to a meeting at the White House on February 10th, Spicer said

Obama in late December ordered sanctions on Russian spy agencies, closed two Russian compounds and expelled 35 diplomats that the United States said were really spies.

The new penalties add to existing US sanctions over Russia's actions in Ukraine, which have damaged Russia's economy but only had limited impact on Putin's behavior.

In 2014, Russia annexed Crimea in Ukraine, drawing widespread condemnation in Europe and the United States and a raft of penalties.

McCain has emerged as a frequent critic of Trump among Capitol Hill Republicans. He takes a dim view of trying to reset relations with Moscow and says Trump should remember that Putin is 'a murderer and a thug who seeks to undermine American national security interests at every turn.'

'For our commander in chief to think otherwise would be naive and dangerous,' McCain said.

McCain and Portman are part of a bipartisan group of senators who have introduced legislation designed to go beyond the punishments against Russia already levied by Obama and to demonstrate to Trump that forcefully responding to Moscow's meddling isn't a partisan issue.

The bill would impose mandatory visa bans and freeze the financial assets of anyone who carries out cyberattacks against public or private computer systems and democratic institutions.

The legislation also mandates sanctions in Russia's all-important energy sector and on investments in the development of civil nuclear projects.

President Trump and British Prime Minister Theresa May met for the first time on Friday, May has advised the US to tread carefully with Putin

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29 January 2017