First Phone Conversation Between Trump, Putin

(28 Jan 2017) President Donald Trump's first conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin since taking office is causing concern among European allies and consternation among fellow Republicans about the future of U.S. penalties imposed on Moscow. Trump was noncommittal before Saturday's scheduled telephone call about whether he was considering lifting the economic sanctions. "We'll see what happens. As far as the White House press secretary Sean Spicer tweeted Saturday that the scheduled call between President Donald Trump and Russia's Vladimir Putin has taken place. It's the first time the leaders have spoken since Trump took office on Jan. 20. Vice President Mike Pence was expected to join the call, but not others that Trump planned Saturday with the leaders of Japan, Germany, France and Australia. Two Republican senators - Arizona's John McCain, chairman of the Armed Services Committee, and Ohio's Rob Portman, a member of the Foreign Relations Committee - also warned the White House about easing any punishments on Moscow and they pledged to turn the sanctions into law. McCain and Portman are part of a bipartisan group of senators who have introduced legislation designed to go beyond the punishments against Russia already levied by Obama and to demonstrate to Trump that forcefully responding to Moscow's meddling isn't a partisan issue. The bill would impose mandatory visa bans and freeze the financial assets of anyone who carries out cyberattacks against public or private computer systems and democratic institutions. Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork Twitter:   / ap_archive   Facebook:   / aparchives   ​​ Instagram:   / apnews   You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/you...