Washington (CNN) President Donald Trump declared "nobody has been tougher on Russia" during a meeting with the heads of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania to the White House on Tuesday, while also repeating his desire to have a good relationship with President Vladimir Putin.

The declaration comes as tension between Russia and the United States has ratcheted up in recent weeks and as Trump met with the Baltic leaders who have grown deeply skeptical of Putin in recent years.

Trump, throughout the Baltic leaders' time at the White House, maintained that he had come down hard on Russia for a series of transgressions. But even his tough talk contained conciliatory remarks about Putin, a familiar posture for the President.

"Getting along with Russia is a good thing, not a bad thing," Trump said during a luncheon with the three leaders. "Now maybe we will and maybe we won't. Probably nobody's been tougher on Russia than Donald Trump."

Trump added that "just about everyone agrees" getting along with Russia is a good thing "except very stupid people."

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