President Trump told Russia President Vladimir Putin earlier this year that members of his administration who allegedly tried to stop a call between the two leaders from taking place were “stupid,” according to a new report.

The New York Times reports that the comment came during their phone call in March, after after Putin was re-elected, in which Trump congratulated Putin on his victory despite advise though his national security advisers not to do so.

A source familiar with the call told the Times that Putin accused some officials in the Trump administration of attempting to put an end to the call between himself and Trump. Trump was said to be sympathetic.

“Those are stupid people; you shouldn’t listen to them,” Trump told Putin.

It was reported by the Washington Post in March that Trump’s national security advisers wrote “DO NOT CONGRATULATE” on briefing materials prior to the call with Putin in March. Trump did so anyways, prompting criticism from political leaders, including Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky.

Trump is scheduled to meet one-on-one with Putin in Helsinki next week to discuss relations between the U.S. and Russia.