WASHINGTON — The White House on Monday confirmed that Russian President Vladimir Putin called President Donald Trump on Sunday to thank him for information that helped foil a potential holiday terrorist attack in Russia.
White House deputy press secretary Hogan Gidley said Putin thanked Trump for information the United States provided. Trump and Putin committed to continuing their counterterrorism cooperation during the call, Gidley said, according to a statement issued by the White House press office.
Gidley said Putin and Trump also discussed the state of relations between the U.S. and Russia and future efforts to support effective arms control, Gidley said.
Russian state media reported on Sunday that authorities prevented an attack in the city of St Petersburg following a tip-off from the U.S.
The Interfax news agency quoted the domestic secret service FSB as saying that two Russian citizens had been arrested on Friday. They had planned to carry out a terrorist attack in crowded locations around New Year, Interfax reported.
The investigators seized evidence which confirmed the plans for an attack, it added. U.S. intelligence had provided the tip-off, the FSB said.
The Kremlin reported on Sunday that Putin spoke with Trump by phone on Sunday to thank him.
