The Thursday meeting between marked the first time national security adviser John Bolton (pictured) and Russia Ambassador Anatoly Antonov have met in their new roles. | Alex Brandon/AP Photo Bolton and Russian ambassador meet at White House

The White House on Thursday said national security adviser John Bolton and Russian Ambassador Anatoly Antonov agree that both nations want to have a better relationship, but cautioned that Bolton said such an improvement will only occur if Russia address "concerns" about interference in 2016 election and its actions in Ukraine and Syria.

"Ambassador Bolton reiterated that it is in the interest of both the United States and Russia to have better relations, but this will require addressing our concerns regarding Russia's interference in the 2016 election, the reckless use of a chemical weapon in the United Kingdom, and the situations in Ukraine and Syria," the White House said in a readout of a meeting between Bolton and Antonov.


The Thursday meeting between the two marked the first time Bolton and Antonov have met in their new roles. It also occurs after the Trump administration's recent muddled message on whether additional sanctions would be imposed on Russia.

U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley had said on Sunday that the administration would be imposing sanctions for Russia's support of Syrian leader Bashar Assad, who the Trump administration accused of recently using another chemical weapon against his own people. The U.S. later led a missile strike against key Syrian locations for chemical weapons, but declined to follow through on sanction plans.

Beyond Syria, U.S.-Russian relations are widely regarded to be at the worst state since the Cold War. Both as a candidate and since taking office, President Donald Trump has stressed hope that U.S. and Russia would be able to cool tensions, but such hopes have been dashed by the alleged poisoning of a former Russian spy in the U.K. and Russian's continued support of Assad.

Trump told reporters on Wednesday that new sanctions would be imposed on Russia "as soon as they very much deserve it."