LONDON - U.S. President Donald Trump stated that he has always had a good relationship with Russian President Vladimir Putin, and suggested that a deal regarding Ukraine is still possible.

“I’ve always had a good relationship with President Putin. We had a great relationship,” he told reporters during a meeting with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer in Scotland.

“And he also went through the Russia, Russia, Russia hoax,” Trump added, referring to reports spread by Democrats that falsely accused Russia of interfering in the U.S. elections to support Trump.

“We talked about it. We said, you know, it’s a shame that we really can’t do anything between our countries,” he continued. “In one respect, I was very tough on Putin, but we got along very well together,” the U.S. president said.

Regarding the conflict in Ukraine, Trump said: “I never thought this would happen. I thought we would be able to negotiate something.” He stated that he hopes a diplomatic solution is still possible. “Maybe it will still happen,” he said.

However, according to the U.S. president, talks to resolve the situation in Ukraine have not yet yielded any significant progress. “We are very far along in the process, so I am disappointed,” he said.

TASS/gnews.cz - GH