WASHINGTON, February 23. /TASS/. Russia and Ukraine should come together, US President Donald Trump told reporters outside the White House on Sunday.

When asked to comment on Russian President Vladimir Putin’s words that cooperation between Russia and Ukraine irks some countries as it produces a global competitor for them.

"I'd like to see them come together. If they came together in the sense that they got along with each other, that would be a great thing for the world," Trump said before leaving for India on a visit. "If Ukraine and Russia could work out some agreement, when they get along, that would be very good."

Russian President Vladimir Putin told TASS in an interview for the project entitled "20 Questions with Vladimir Putin" that Russian-Ukrainian cooperation irks numerous countries because it creates a global competitor to challenge them.

"Any integration of Russia and Ukraine, along with their capacities and competitive advantages would spell the emergence of a rival, a global rival for both Europe and the world. No one wants this. That's why they'll do anything to tear us apart," Putin said. He refrained from mentioning the countries he had in mind.

In late September 2019, Trump said that "a lot of progress has been made" in Russian-Ukrainian relations. In early September, Trump congratulated Russia and Ukraine on the exchange of detainees, expressing hope that it would become a first big step on the way to peace.