Kremlin says Putin and Trump understand and trust each other

Moscow: The Kremlin said on Wednesday that Russian President Vladimir Putin and US President Donald Trump have a good rapport and are determined to restore badly damaged US-Russia ties step-by-step.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov was speaking after Putin and Trump spoke by phone on Tuesday and the Russian leader agreed to stop attacking Ukrainian energy facilities temporarily but declined to endorse a full 30-day ceasefire that Trump had hoped would be the first step towards a permanent peace deal.

"I can say with a high degree of confidence that presidents Putin and Trump understand each other well, trust each other and intend to work towards the normalisation of Russian-American relations step-by-step", Peskov said.

He said there had long been a direct phone line between the presidents of the two countries and a video-link when necessary, but that it had hardly been used during Joe Biden's administration. He said Putin hoped it could now be used more often.

"Of course, Russia and the United States are very large countries and too much has been spoiled during the previous US administrations," said Peskov.

"So, of course, it will take time and effort, supported by the will of the two presidents, to restore these relations. But for now this strong will of the two presidents is probably the best guarantee that everyone will follow this path."

Peskov said that the exact dates and format for the next round of US-Russia contacts would be agreed today and tomorrow.