President Trump and Russia’s Putin Are Going to Talk on the Phone This Weekend

(MOSCOW) – Russian President Vladimir Putin plans to use a telephone call with U.S. President Donald Trump scheduled for Saturday to congratulate him on taking office and to exchange views on the current state of bilateral ties, the Kremlin said.

Asked if they would discuss Ukraine, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov, speaking to reporters on a conference call, said it was unlikely they would have substantive discussions on the entire range of issues facing their countries, as it was their first contact since Trump’s inauguration.

Asked about media reports that Trump was preparing to lift or soften sanctions imposed on Russia over the conflict in Ukraine, Peskov said: “I know nothing about that.”

Peskov said the call would take place on Saturday evening Moscow time.

(Writing by Christian Lowe; Editing by Andrew Osborn)