The call to president Putin was the most significant, with the White House indicating that the conversation held the promise of mending bilateral ties.
“The positive call was a significant start to improving the relationship between the United States and Russia that is in need of repair,” the White House noted.
Citing an unnamed source in the White House, a researcher at the Atlantic Council analytical center, tweeted on Thursday that the Trump administration “has an executive order ready” to lift the restrictions on Moscow, but Trump said on Friday that it is “very early to be talking about that”.
According to the White House, the conversation “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.” Putin and Trump “are hopeful that after today’s call the two sides can move quickly to tackle terrorism and other important issues of mutual concern.”
Putin responded positively to the call by saying: “For over two centuries Russia has supported the United States, was its ally during the two world wars, and now sees the United States as a major partner in fighting international terrorism.”
White House revealed that Trump and Merkel had discussed policies toward Russia, as well as the role of NATO and possible ways to solve the crises in Ukraine and the Middle East. Trump also accepted Merkel’s invitation to attend the upcoming G20 summit in Hamburg in July.
.@POTUS speaks with German Chancellor Merkel from the Oval Office. One of five heads of government calls today pic.twitter.com/xMNl3A3Iw0
— Sean Spicer (@PressSec) January 28, 2017
During the conversation, Trump appeared to be calming Merkel about the US commitment to NATO, he had earlier described as “obsolete” because they have contributed nothing towards the fight against terrorism.
“The president and the chancellor also agreed on the NATO Alliance’s fundamental importance to the broader transatlantic relationship and its role in ensuring the peace and stability of our North Atlantic community,” the White House said in a statement. “In this vein, the leaders recognized that NATO must be capable of confronting 21st century threats and that our common defense requires appropriate investment in military capabilities to ensure all Allies are contributing their fair share to our collective security.”
But Germany and France have agreed that they would counter any moves by Trump to lift sanctions on Russia, calling the sanctions in place “progress towards peace in eastern Ukraine”.
“We in Germany and France have a clear position on maintaining sanctions,” Sigmar Gabriel, the new German foreign minister said after a meeting with his French counterpart Jean-Marc Ayrault in Paris.
The two politicians also vowed to set up bilateral working groups against US initiatives, and new era in American politics and international focus, describing Russia as a “threat” in the self-inflicted Ukraine crisis.
Trump also called Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. Abe has agreed to cooperate on the North Korean issue, and will be visiting Washington on February 10.
Turnbull’s role in maintaining peace and stability in the Asia-Pacific region was discussed.
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