The BBC has agreed to pay damages to Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko for an erroneous report that Kiev had paid $400,000 to secure a meeting with President Trump in 2017.

“We apologize to Mr. Poroshenko for any distress caused and have agreed to pay him damages, legal costs and have participated in a joint statement in open court,” the British broadcaster said.

The news outlet’s article, which was published in May 2018, alleged that the money was paid to Trump’s former lawyer Michael Cohen to arrange a White House meeting in June 2017.

Poroshenko sued the BBC for libel over the report, saying the story damaged his “political and business” reputation and caused him “substantial distress and embarrassment.”

It added that the allegation of “serious corruption” was particularly damaging because of Poroshenko’s “promotion of a number of anti-corruption measures” in his country.

During their White House sitdown, Trump expressed support for a peaceful resolution to the conflict in eastern Ukraine but said nothing about Russia’s role.

Their meeting — which was officially called a “drop-by” visit — took place on the same day the Treasury Department added two Russian officials and 36 other individuals and entities to its list of those facing sanctions over Moscow’s activities in Ukraine.