United States President Donald Trump has held a telephonic conversation with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin on Friday for the first time since the release of the first redacted version of special counsel Robert Mueller’s probe report over Russian interference in 2016 US presidential election.
“Had a long and very good conversation with President Putin,” the US President tweeted, the BBC reported on Friday.
Trump rebuked a reporter who asked whether he had warned Putin against meddling in the 2020 elections. The Kremlin confirmed in a statement the two had spoken, saying the call had been initiated by the White House.
White House press secretary Sarah Sanders was quoted by The Hill as saying the Mueller probe report came “briefly” during an hour-long call and message was: “It’s over and there was no collusion.”
Trump and Putin last spoke informally at last December’s G20 Summit in Buenos Aires, after Trump cancelled the two leaders’ official meeting.
Trump tweeted on Friday about their latest conversation: “Had a long and very good conversation with President Putin of Russia. As I have always said, long before the Witch Hunt started, getting along with Russia, China, and everyone is a good thing, not a bad thing.”
He continued tweeting, “We discussed Trade, Venezuela, Ukraine, North Korea, Nuclear Arms Control and even the “Russian Hoax.” Very productive talk!”
….We discussed Trade, Venezuela, Ukraine, North Korea, Nuclear Arms Control and even the “Russian Hoax.” Very productive talk!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 3, 2019
When asked in the White House on Friday whether he had warned Putin that Moscow should not interfere in the next US presidential election, Trump told the reporter she was “very rude”.
He said, “We didn’t discuss that,” adding, “Getting along with countries is a good thing and we want to have good relations with everybody.”
But the White House said the matter of alleged Russian meddling had been broached in the call.
Sanders said: “Very, very briefly it was discussed, essentially in the context of that it’s over and there was no collusion, which I’m pretty sure both leaders were very well aware of long before this call took place.”
Sanders also said Trump and Putin had briefly discussed the investigation by US Special Counsel Robert Mueller into alleged Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election.
The White House press secretary described the call as an “overall positive conversation”.
A redacted version of the special counsel’s report was made public last month. It did not determine that the Trump campaign conspired with Russia, but it detailed repeated efforts by Trump to thwart an investigation he feared would end his presidency.
Mueller concluded his inquiry could not exonerate Trump of obstruction of justice, noting Department of Justice guidance that a sitting president cannot be criminally charged.