Russia’s foreign ministry has called on Trump to reaffirm the current international agreement surrounding the Panama Canal and to leave it in control of the nation of Panama.

Panama has alerted the United Nations - in a letter seen by Reuters on Tuesday - to U.S. President Donald Trump's remarks during his inauguration speech, when he vowed that the United States would take back the Panama Canal.

In his inaugural speech, President Trump claimed that Panama had "broken" a promise to remain neutral, alleging that "China is operating the Panama Canal". President Jose Raul Mulino said he rejected Trump's words in their "entirety",

President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia praised President Trump’s second inauguration, but the American leader did not return the compliment.

The Russian president stressed he was open to dialogue with the new US administration on Ukraine and nuclear arms