Putin Thanks Trump For Preventing Terrorist Attack In Russia

Russian President Vladimir Putin credited President Donald Trump for preventing a terror attack in St. Petersburg, and thanked the U.S. leader in a phone call on Sunday.

“Yesterday, President Vladimir Putin of Russia called President Donald J. Trump to thank him for information the United States provided that helped foil a potential holiday terrorist attack in Russia,” White House deputy press secretary Hogan Gidley said in a statement Monday morning.

“Both Presidents committed to continuing counterterrorism cooperation between the two countries,” Gidley continued. “The Presidents also discussed the state of relations between the United States and Russia and future efforts to support effective arms control.”

Russian news agencies credited the Federal Security Service as providing intelligence that led to two Russians being detained on Friday.

While U.S.-Russia relations have been tense, amid disagreements over Ukraine and Syria, and allegations of meddling in the presidential election, Trump and Putin have maintained a friendly relationship.

Putin defended Trump last week, calling the two articles of impeachment brought against him “absolutely made up.”