In an interview with Fox Business Network, President Trump said it would be easier to resolve the North Korea nuclear issue if the United States had a better relationship with Russia.
“China is helping us and maybe Russia’s going through the other way and hurting what we’re getting,” President Trump said of the North Korea situation.
A series of weapons tests by North Korea and a string of increasingly bellicose exchanges between President Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un have ratcheted up tensions.
President Trump has pressed China to help rein in North Korea’s nuclear program.
China, North Korea’s sole major ally, accounts for more than 90 percent of trade with the isolated country.
The President said in a tweet that he spoke with Chinese President Xi Jinping and the conversation included North Korea.
US-Russia relations have been strained over allegations Russia meddled in the 2016 U.S. presidential election, Moscow’s annexation of Crimea from Ukraine and its backing of the Syrian government.
“I think we could have a good relationship” with Russia, President Trump said.
“I think that North Korean situation would be easier settled.”
President Trump said during last year’s campaign he hoped to improve relations with Moscow.