WH: Trump Call With Putin A ‘Significant Start’ To Better US-Russia Relationship

President Vladimir Putin drinks as he listens to a question in Moscow's Kremlin, Thursday, Oct. 18, 2007. President Vladimir Putin extolled Russia's strong economic growth and improving demographics but warned that i... President Vladimir Putin drinks as he listens to a question in Moscow's Kremlin, Thursday, Oct. 18, 2007. President Vladimir Putin extolled Russia's strong economic growth and improving demographics but warned that inflation might top 8 percent this year, as the Russian leader began fielding dozens of questions during his annual televised question-and-answer session. (AP Photo/RIA Novosti, Vladimir Rodionov, Presidential Press Service) MORE LESS
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The White House said President Donald Trump’s call with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Saturday was a “significant start” to improving the relationship between the two countries.

The conversation was “positive” and covered subjects including cooperation to defeat the Islamic State and achieve “more peace” in countries including Syria, according to the White House readout of the call.

In a joint press conference with British Prime Minister Theresa May on Friday, Trump signaled that it was too early to talk about lifting sanctions on Russia.

The U.S. intelligence community has already concluded that Russia sought to disrupt the 2016 election through hacking and other methods. The Senate Intelligence Committee and House Intelligence Committee are both moving forward with investigations of Russia’s role in election-related interference.

Read the full White House readout below:

READOUT OF THE PRESIDENT’S CALL WITH RUSSIAN PRESIDENT VLADIMIR PUTIN

President Donald J. Trump received a congratulatory call today from Russian President Vladimir Putin. The call lasted approximately one hour and ranged in topics from mutual cooperation in defeating ISIS to efforts in working together to achieve more peace throughout the world including Syria. The positive call was a significant start to improving the relationship between the United States and Russia that is in need of repair. Both President Trump and President Putin are hopeful that after today’s call the two sides can move quickly to tackle terrorism and other important issues of mutual concern.

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