Trump Congratulates Putin On Hosting 'Great' World Cup

US President Donald Trump congratulated his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin on Russia having hosted "one of the best" FIFA World Cups in history as the two leaders started their first full-fledged summit in the Finnish capital Helsinki on Monday.

"First of all, Mr President I’d like to congratulate you on a really great World Cup. One of the best ever from what everybody tells me and also for your team, itself, doing so well," Trump said.

He added that had watched the semi-finals and the final, which were "spectacular," while the entire tournament was "beautifully" organized.

Putin and Trump arrived in Finland on Monday for their first one-on-one talks that will cover a wide range of issues, including Syria, Ukraine and denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula.

Russia's first-ever World Cup came to a close on Sunday, with France beating Croatia 4-2 in Moscow to lift the trophy for the second time. Russia reached the quarter-finals of their home tournament after advancing to the knockout stage for the first time since the end of the Soviet era.