When an American president speaks with President Vladimir Putin of Russia on major international issues of disagreement, it should be a forthright discussion. Or some variation on that theme of diplomatic disagreement.

The White House should not reference, as it did on Friday, a “very positive” call. After all, the White House says the two leaders discussed North Korea, Ukraine, Venezuela, nuclear arms control, and the Mueller report. And Putin’s interests are very much in conflict with our own on each of those issues.