Trump, Putin talk acts by ‘terrorists’
Russian president says US helped thwart attack
WASHINGTON – Presidents Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin discussed a foiled terrorist plot in Russia and improved U.S.-Russian relations, but neither government put out much detail on their weekend conversation.
The Russians released a threeparagraph statement after the call Sunday saying the presidents talked by phone at “the initiative of the Russian side,” and Putin thanked Trump for “information transmitted through the channels of US special services that has helped thwart terrorist acts in Russia.”
Russia said, “The two presidents discussed a range of issues of mutual interest and agreed to continue bilateral cooperation in combating terrorism.”
In a statement, the Kremlin said its president again invited Trump to Russia next year to mark the 75th anniversary of victory in World War II.
Putin “noted that Russia and the US were historically responsible for ensuring global security and stability,”
Trump and Putin “committed to continuing counterterrorism cooperation between the two countries.” Hogan Gidley White House spokesman, in a statement
the Kremlin said, “and that Moscow speaks in favor of normalizing bilateral relations and establishing an equal dialogue based on the mutual respect of interests.”
The White House put out a brief statement Monday on the phone call, saying Putin thanked Trump for “information the United States provided that helped foil a potential holiday terrorist attack in Russia.”
Trump and Putin “committed to continuing counterterrorism cooperation between the two countries,” according to White House spokesman Hogan Gidley. “The Presidents also discussed the state of relations between the United States and Russia and future efforts to support effective arms control.”
Trump is spending the end of the year at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Palm Beach, Florida. He has not said whether he plans to visit Russia for what Putin’s government called “celebrations of the 75th anniversary of Victory in the Great Patriotic War.”
Neither government provided many details about the suspected terrorist plot. Reuters reported that “two Russians were detained on Dec. 27 on suspicion of plotting attacks during New Year festivities in St. Petersburg.”