U.S. President Barack Obama has called Russian President-elect Vladimir Putin, in the first conversation between the two men since Putin won a controversial third term in elections on March 4.
The AFP news agency quoted presidential spokesman Josh Earnest as saying Obama called Putin from aboard Air Force One.
There were no immediate details on the conversation.
But a White House spokesman on March 8 said the United States looked forward to continued ties with Russia "regardless of who the president is."
The Russian opposition on March 9 criticized U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton for calling Putin the "clear winner" of the presidential vote in comments earlier this week.
Russian activists say Putin manipulated state resources and the media to orchestrate his return to the presidency.
The AFP news agency quoted presidential spokesman Josh Earnest as saying Obama called Putin from aboard Air Force One.
There were no immediate details on the conversation.
But a White House spokesman on March 8 said the United States looked forward to continued ties with Russia "regardless of who the president is."
The Russian opposition on March 9 criticized U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton for calling Putin the "clear winner" of the presidential vote in comments earlier this week.
Russian activists say Putin manipulated state resources and the media to orchestrate his return to the presidency.