Putin thanks Trump for U.S. intel that foiled possible attack

MOSCOW — Russian President Vladimir Putin called President Donald Trump late Sunday to thank him for information shared by U.S. intelligence that helped foil a terrorist attack in St. Petersburg.

The Kremlin announced the conversation between the leaders on Sunday, a day before the White House issued its readout of the call.

Moscow’s version vaguely stated that Trump and Putin “discussed a range of issues of mutual interest” along with continued cooperation combating terrorism. Deputy White House press secretary Hogan Gidley’s statement on Monday said, “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.”

Russia’s Federal Security Service, the country’s principal intelligence agency, detained two Russian nationals on Dec. 27 “on the basis of information provided earlier by the American partners,” the agency’s spokesman told Tass, Russia’s state news agency. They were charged with preparing a terrorist attack that allegedly was to occur during the New Year’s holiday in St. Petersburg, at the Kazan Cathedral in the center of the city and a shopping center near the Moskovsky Rail Terminal.

New Year’s is a festive time for Russians, with many people off work until Jan. 9.

Russian news agency Interfax reported that the Federal Security Service distributed a video showing one of the men detained allegedly swearing an oath to the Islamic State.

The White House readout of the call also referred to Trump and Putin discussing “the state of relations between the United States and Russia and future efforts to support effective arms control,” a possible reference to the New START arms treaty between the countries, which expires in February of 2021.