Russian intel chief hints at possible contacts with US counterpart after Putin-Trump phone talk

MOSCOW

The head of Russia's foreign intelligence agency SVR hinted on Thursday that he may soon be in contact with his US counterpart, noting that conditions for such discussions were established during Wednesday’s phone call between the Russian and US presidents.

Speaking to reporters in Moscow, Sergey Naryshkin said that following the conversation between Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump, an instruction was given to continue cooperation at various levels, including between heads of departments, law enforcement agencies, and intelligence services.

"The highly informative and in-depth conversation between the two presidents yesterday has undoubtedly created the necessary conditions for further work, including at the level of department heads, law enforcement, and intelligence agencies. In fact, such an instruction has already been issued," he said.

Putin and Trump held their first phone conversation since the latter took office last month, discussing key global and bilateral issues, according to statements from both the Kremlin and the White House.

Trump said they agreed to “start negotiations immediately” to end the nearly three-year-old Ukraine war.