Trump says not tightening sanctions against Russia

US President Donald Trump noted that he is not toughening sanctions against Russia because there is still "a good chance" for a settlement in Ukraine.

"I think that there's a good chance we can get this done," he told reporters at the White House when asked why he had not yet tightened sanctions against Moscow.

"If you do that (impose new sanctions - TASS), you can also make it much worse," Trump noted. Meanwhile, he pointed out that "there could be a time where that's going to happen."

Russian President Vladimir Putin and US President Donald Trump had a telephone conversation on Monday. It lasted more than two hours. The Russian president praised the conversation with the US president and called it constructive.

After the conversation, Trump called Putin a “nice gentleman” and added that he had a good conversation with the Russian president and that “there is some progress.”