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US President Donald Trump has said
he wants a "great relationship" with Russia, but would not say if he
would lift US sanctions against the country.
But Mr Trump said it was "very early" to talk about the sanctions imposed on the country by his predecessor.
He was asked about his plans in a joint press conference with UK Prime Minister Theresa May on her visit to Washington - the first national leader to be welcomed by the president.
"We will see what happens," said Mr Trump. "We look to have a great relationship with all countries, ideally. That won't necessarily happen, unfortunately, [and it] probably won't happen with many countries.
"But if we could have [a relationship] as we do with Prime Minister May… if we can have a great relationship with Russia and with China and with all countries, I am all for that.
"That would be a tremendous asset. No guarantees, but if we can, that would be a positive, not a negative."
Mrs May said the UK had been "very clear" that sanctions should remain in place until the Minsk agreement, stopping the war between Russia and Ukraine, had been fully implemented.