International Desk: Joe Biden has held his first call as president with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday (January 26th).

The two leaders discussed a range of issues, including the ongoing protests in Russia and the extension of the latest nuclear deal between the United States and Russia, in a phone call.

According to various media outlets, Biden had a phone conversation with Putin at the request of Moscow. Biden was sworn in on January 20. Shortly after Biden took office, the Kremlin requested a phone call from Putin.

According to the White House, Biden raised various issues in his first phone conversation with Putin. These issues include Russia's interference in US elections, cyber attacks in the United States, poisoning of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny, Russian aggression in Ukraine, and the Russia-US nuclear deal.

The White House claims that Biden raised the issue of Moscow-Washington conflict in a phone conversation between the two leaders, but the Kremlin's statement did not mention any of it.

Russian officials say a normalization of relations between Russia and the United States will play a role in protecting the two countries' interests and fulfilling their responsibilities to maintain world security and stability.

Overall, the talks between Russia and the United States were frank and appropriate, the Kremlin said in a statement.

Ref: BBC