Donald Trump congratulates Vladimir Putin on election win

Donald Trump has congratulated Russian President Vladimir Putin on his re-election.

President Donald Trump meets with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in the Oval Office of the White House, Tuesday, March 20, 2018, in Washington. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

Donald Trump has congratulated Russian President Vladimir Putin on his re-election, as the leaders raise the prospect of a summit soon — while sidestepping the issue of election meddling and a spy ­attack that has rocked Moscow’s relations with the West.

The US President said yesterday he had spoken to Mr Putin, two days after the Russian strongman sailed to a fourth term, and with ties strained by the Cold War-style intrigue over the poisoning of an ex-spy in Britain.

“I had a call with President Putin and congratulated him on his electoral victory,” Mr Trump said. “The call had to do also with the fact that we will probably get together in the not-too-distant ­future.”

In calling Mr Putin, Mr Trump ignored explicit advice from his national security advisers, The Washington Post reported, quoting officials familiar with the call. This warning included a section in his briefing materials in capital letters that read “DO NOT CONGRATULATE,” the Post said.

According to a Kremlin statement, the two leaders also stressed the importance of joint efforts to limit an arms race and boost economic co-operation.

“On the whole, the conversation was constructive and business-like,” the Kremlin said, adding its goal was to help “overcome the problems that had accumulated in the Russian-US relations”.

Russia is under pressure from London and its allies to explain how its former double agent Sergei Skripal and his daughter were poisoned on British soil, with a nerve agent the UK says was Soviet-designed. Moscow has denied being involved.

Although the nerve attack has topped global headlines for weeks, it did not come up during the leaders’ conversation, according to the Kremlin and White House.

“I don’t believe that was discussed in today’s call,” White House spokeswoman Sarah Sanders said.

Nor did the two address Washington’s imposition last week of a new round of sanctions against Moscow designed to punish Russians responsible for attempts to interfere in the 2016 US presidential election. And they avoided discussing questions raised over the poll in Russia. “The focus was to talk about areas of shared interests,” Ms Sanders said.

Those shared interests, according to the Kremlin, included the crises in Ukraine and Syria, and ways of “developing practical co-operation” in various spheres ­including the fight against ­terrorism.

Russian President Vladimir Putin poses with Valery Redkozubov, medal winner at the 2018 Pyeongchang Winter Paralympic Games. Picture: AFP

Pyongyang’s nuclear program was on the agenda as Mr Trump pushes forward with plans for a historic summit with North Ko­rean leader Kim Jong-un.

“Satisfaction has been expressed with a certain decrease in tensions around the Korean peninsula,” the Kremlin added.

The leaders also paid “special attention” to “working out the issue of holding a possible meeting at the highest level”.

In the aftermath of an election that appears to have had significant flaws, a prominent US critic of both presidents denounced Mr Trump’s call.

“An American president does not lead the free world by congratulating dictators on winning sham elections,” said Republican senator John McCain.

“And by doing so with Vladimir Putin, President Trump insulted every Russian citizen who was denied the right to vote in a free and fair election to determine their country’s future.”

The White House had earlier indicated that no call with Mr Putin was planned, as the Russian leader played down talk of a rift.

Mr Putin secured a landslide victory in Sunday’s presidential election, returning to the Kremlin with a record vote share of 76.66 per cent.

The Kremlin released a list of those who had sent congratulatory messages, including the leaders of Greece, Germany, Iran, the Czech Republic, Finland, Syria and North Korea.

Western leaders were slow to congratulate Mr Putin as monitors reported ballot stuffing and other alleged cases of fraud, though fewer irregularities were reported than in previous years.

Mr Putin said he would address disputes with the West but stressed that international relations were a two-way street.

“From our side, we will do all we can so that the disputes with our partners be resolved by political and diplomatic means,” he said. “It goes without saying that not everything depends on us — as with love, both sides have to be ­involved, otherwise there can be no love at all.”

AFP