WASHINGTON - The White House says President Barack Obama congratulated Vladimir Putin for winning election as Russia's next president.
Obama and Putin spoke by phone Friday, five days after Putin won a return to the presidential post he held before the single term of his protege Dmitry Medvedev.
The U.S. has been somewhat cool to Putin, who has been highly critical of the United States, much more so than the man he is replacing.
The White House says the two men agreed to continue discussion on areas where the U.S. and Russia have differed, including on next steps in Syria.
The White House says Obama told Putin that the two nations have much work to do together. He highlighted current co-operation on nuclear disarmament, Iran sanctions and in Afghanistan.
