President Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin spoke on the phone on Sunday to discuss “matters of mutual interest,” including counterterrorism, according to Kremlin readout of the phone call.
According to Russia, Putin thanked Trump for U.S. intelligence assistance in thwarting a allegedly planned terrorist attack in St. Petersburg on New Years Eve. The Federal Security Service of Russia issued a statement about the U.S.’s assistance in the operation earlier this weekend.
“Vladimir Putin thanked Donald Trump for the information shared via the special services that helped prevent terrorist acts in Russia,” the Russian statement said. “Several matters of mutual interest were discussed. An agreement was made to continue bilateral cooperation in the fight against terrorism.”
Russia reportedly initiated the call and the White House took hours longer to publish its readout of the conversation. The White House statement on the call was similar to Russia’s, claiming Putin thanked Trump for the intelligence assistance.
NEW — the WH finally releases a readout of the Trump-Putin call:
"The Presidents also discussed the state of relations between the United States and Russia and future efforts to support effective arms control." pic.twitter.com/M893Jwaez6
— j.d. durkin (@jiveDurkey) December 30, 2019
The two have not spoken on the phone since July.
H/t: CNN.
A Kremlin source?
Wasn’t cnn supposed to carry a Ukraine interview with Zelensky recently?
Has Josh K ever worked with cnn folk?
Must have been time for Spankys annual review.
Putin wants those sanctions gone NOW. Trump is not coming through with his promises to Russia. He’s looking weak and all beat up by Pelosi. So what else did Donald offer instead to the Butcher? Poland?
This is an orchestrated event played to give Trump a boost amidst bad press. Putin is surely going to hand Trump some public relations gift. He’ll say it’s a reward for this terrorism tip, with both parties saying it demonstrates Trump’s ability to conduct productive diplomacy. And the gift itself, whether a spy release, an arms control concession, or maybe some lowering of the hostilities in Ukraine, will be played up as a major victory for Trump, and evidence of his genius.
Trump created an “owe me”, and Putin will oblige.
Mark it.
Undoubtedly wishing T a happy Hanukkah.