KIEV, Jan. 28 - The White House said the first official phone call between President Donald Trump and his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, “was a significant start to improving the relationship between the United States and Russia that is in need of repair,” Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty reported.

The hour-long call on January 28 was their first official contact since Trump's inauguration on January 20.

In statements released by the Kremlin and the White House, there was only passing mention of the situation in Ukraine, where Russia's annexation of the Crimea Peninsula prompted sweeping U.S. and European sanctions. In the days leading up to the call, there was speculation that Trump would move to lift those measures.