Warmer US-Moscow ties ahead? Putin 'thanks' Trump for CIA information preventing Russian terror attack

Vladimir Putin has reportedly thanked Donald Trump after the CIA provided information to help prevent a series of terrorist bombings in Russia.

The information led to the arrest of a group of suspect planning a bombing on the Kazansky Cathedral in the Russian leader's home city of St Petersburg, the Associated Press reported.

The Kremlin said Putin phoned the US president to thank him and to convey his gratitude to the CIA, adding that Russian security agencies would continue to provide any information they obtained about potential terror threats against the US, as it has done in the past.

According to Russia's FSB security service, the information from the CIA led to the arrest of seven people and the seizure of a significant amount of explosives and weapons.

The cell of terrorists had planned to carry out a suicide bombing on Saturday (16 December).

The White House said in a statement that "terrorists" were captured before an attack "that could have killed large numbers of people," the BBC reported. The cell planned to target the cathedral and other public places in Russia's second city.

Footage of FSB operatives detaining a suspect outside an apartment building was broadcast on Russian TV stations. The suspect was later shown confessing that he was told to make homemade bombs filled with shrapnel. Russian TV also showed footage of a metal container that the FSB said the suspects used as a laboratory for making explosives.

The FSB arrested several Isis-lined suspects in Moscow last week who were allegedly planning a series of suicide attacks over the New Year period.

Putin's phone call with Trump was the second since Thursday (14 December), when Trump thanked Putin for "acknowledging America's strong economic performance," the White House said.

The two leaders also discussed ways to collaborate in addressing North Korea's nuclear and ballistic weapons programme during their first call.