Donald Trump has spoken to Russian President Vladimir Putin by phone, according to a report in the US media. Meanwhile, Germany's Olaf Scholz has stressed the importance of maintaining good relations with Washington.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz told US President-elect Donald Trump in a phone call that his government is ready to continue “decades of successful cooperation” between the two countries, a German spokesman said.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, in his first telephone call with Donald Trump since he won the US election, on Sunday offered the incoming US president the opportunity to continue the long-standing cooperation between Berlin and Washington.