Trump to speak with Putin on Tuesday

[WASHINGTON] US President Donald Trump will speak with Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin by telephone Tuesday, the White House said in a statement.

There was no indication about the topics of discussion for the two leaders. The call was scheduled for 12:30pm (1630 GMT).

Mr Trump has already spoken by telephone twice with Putin since taking office.

On January 28, the two men discussed how to defeat the Islamic State group in a congratulatory call from Putin, according to officials.

The last time, on April 3, Mr Trump pledged support to Russia over a deadly bomb attack in the Saint Petersburg metro that killed 15 people.

US ties with Russia are under scrutiny after US intelligence agencies said hackers directed by the Kremlin accessed the Democratic National Committee networks ahead of the election that put Mr Trump in the White House.

The FBI is probing any links between Trump campaign associates and the Russian government. The Pentagon is probing Mr Trump's former national security adviser, Michael Flynn, over payments received from Russian government-linked firms.

AFP