WASHINGTON, December 15. /TASS/. During a phone conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin, US President Donald Trump thanked him for comments on the economic growth in the United States, made during the annual news conference on Thursday, the White House said in a statement.

"President Trump thanked President Putin for acknowledging America’s strong economic performance in his annual press conference," the statement reads.

During Thursday’s conference, Putin has declined to evaluate Trump’s policies, but pointed to the growing US economy and markets. "We actually see that some serious achievements have been made during the short period of time that has passed since he took office. Just look how the markets have gone up," he said.