President Trump declined Friday to say if he supported a reduction in sanctions against Russia in advance of his scheduled call with Russian President Vladimir Putin Saturday.
Trump's comments came in a news conference with British Prime Minister Theresa May in the White House's East Room, which followed the president's first official meeting with a foreign leader.
Their meeting focused, the two leaders said, on topics that included trade, the British withdrawal from the European Union, the future of the NATO military alliance, and Russia.
“The special relationship between our two counties has been one of the greatest forces in history for justice and peace," Trump told reporters after the hour-long meeting with the British prime minister — "and, by the way, my mother was born in Scotland."
May gave a much longer opening statement lauding U.S.-U.K. cooperation on trade, defense, and terrorism. The prime minister added that she had extended an invitation from Queen Elizabeth for Trump to make a state visit to London this year, “and I’m delighted to say he has accepted.”
May praised Trump for his "stunning" election win, and said the president made a "100% commitment" to NATO. The prime minister also dismissed a question about skepticism of Trump in Great Britain and Europe, telling reporters she had a constructive talk with him: "I've been listening to the president, and the president has been listening to me."
On Russia, Trump declined to say whether he supported lifting sanctions on Putin's government; adding that he hoped to "have a great relationship with all countries, ideally.” May said Russia needed to live up to its commitments on Ukraine.