Trump to Call Putin as US-Russia Tensions Rise Over Plague Case

Tensions between the US and Russia have escalated over a suspected plague case in Siberia, with President Donald Trump announcing a planned call with Vladimir Putin while dismissing bioweapon theories. Washington has sent Moscow an official diplomatic note demanding information about the Irkutsk incident. The State Department urged Russia to comply with international health communication obligations, warning that withholding details violates norms. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov responded coldly, denying knowledge of the American démarche and confirming no presidential call had been arranged. Russian health agency Rospotrebnadzor insists there is no epidemic risk. Local residents report inadequate information and security measures, including a lack of testing supplies. The mother of deceased researcher Daria Shilipova rejects claims of a broken test tube, saying her daughter was "simply left to die." Rumors of a second death persist despite Kremlin denials.