The first official contact between President Donald Trump and his Russia counterpart Vladimir Putin is expected to be “positive”, Russian officials say.
Russia’s Interfax news agency quoted influential security chief Nikolai Patrushey on Saturday. He is the secretary of Russia’s Security Council.
The telephone call between expected to take place later Saturday will be the first official contact between the two leaders since Trump was sworn in as president last week.
TRUMP, MEXICAN LEADER TALK -- BY PHONE -- AS TENSIONS RISE
Trump senior advisor Kellyanne Conway told “Fox & Friends” on Friday that the two leaders may speak about U.S. sanctions against Russia and how to improve relations between the two nations.
Recent polls show that anti-American sentiment in Russia has dropped to 56 percent. Pollsters say it’s due to Trump’s indication he wants to improve relations.
The Kremlin has welcomed Trump's promises to mend ties with Moscow, which have been badly strained by the Ukrainian crisis, the war in Syria and allegations of Russian meddling in the U.S. elections.
According to Denis Volkav of the Levada Center, Russia’s independent pollster, the Russian government has been gradually ending state television propaganda to get the public ready for possible reconciliation.
Ahead of the call planned for Saturday, Trump was noncommittal about whether he was considering lifting the economic penalties. He told reporters: "We'll see what happens. As far as the sanctions, very early to be talking about that."
Trump made those remarks Friday alongside British Prime Minister Theresa May, whose country — as part of the European Union — also levied sanctions on Russia following its provocations in Ukraine. Voicing the view of many in Europe, May said, "We believe the sanctions should continue."
On Saturday, Trump is also set to speak with the prime minister of Japan, Shinzo Abe, German Chancellor Angela Merkel. In the afternoon the president is scheduled to speak with the president of France, François Hollande, and Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull.
Vice President Mike Pence was expected to be on the Putin call with Trump. He wasn't expected to join other diplomatic calls the president planned for Saturday.
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