VOA常速英语:普京与拜登首次通电话

This is VOA news. Via remote, I'm Marissa Melton. (From) For the first time since his inauguration, U.S. President Joe Biden spoke Tuesday with Russian leader Vladimir Putin, expressing concerns about the arrest of dissident Alexei Navalny, Moscow's cyber-espionage campaign and bounties on U.S. troops in Afghanistan, two senior Biden administration officials described the call on Tuesday. According to U.S. accounts of the call, Biden told Putin that Russia and the United States should complete a five-year extension of their nuclear arms control treaty before it expires in early February. Russian has not yet commented on the call but Moscow announced Tuesday that Russia and the United States have struck a deal to extend the New START nuclear arms control treaty. The Biden administration has not confirmed this. Biden told reporters Monday that despite disagreements with Moscow he believes both countries can operate in mutual self-interest on a New START agreement. He said that plan does not need to conflict, with making clear to Russia that the United States is very concerned about other issues on which the countries are in opposition.

Mr. Biden also spoke Tuesday with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, where he reassuring him of the United States' commitment to NATO. NATO is the West's post-World War II military pact that was formed as an alliance against the threat of Russian aggression. The two calls are a stark contrast with the attitudes of the previous administration. Former President Donald Trump was often deferential to Putin while quarreling with his NATO allies.

And aides of Navalny called Tuesday for new anti-government rallies in Moscow this weekend. The opposition figure's team hosted an event on Facebook calling for his supporters to gather in Moscow at noon Sunday. This is VOA news.