Trump says he still believes Russia wants Ukraine conflict settled

WASHINGTON. March 7 (Interfax) - United States President Donald Trump has said he believes the Russian leadership wants to bring the Ukraine conflict to an end in earnest.

"I believe him [Russian President Vladimir Putin]. I think we're doing very well with Russia [...]. I'm finding it more difficult, frankly, to deal with Ukraine," Trump told journalists in the Oval Office on Friday, when asked whether he believed that the Russian leader wanted peace in Ukraine.

Trump reiterated that, in his opinion, "they [Ukraine] don't have the cards," while Russia "has all the cards." He said U.S. officials found it easier to engage with Russian counterparts at the recent meeting in Riyadh than with Kiev's representatives.

Speaking of Russia's stance on a settlement in Ukraine, Trump suggested that Putin is "going to be more generous than he has to be."