In a joint press conference with the president of Finland on Thursday, US President Donald Trump expressed confidence that the US and Russia would eventually get along with each other.

Responding to a question about US-Russian relations, Trump said, “Well, I hope that we do have good relations with Russia. I say it loud and clear, I’ve been saying it for years. I think it’s a good thing if we have great relationships, or at least good relationships with Russia.”

“That’s very important, and I believe someday that will happen. It’s a big country, it’s a nuclear country, it’s a country that we should get along with, and I think we will eventually get along with Russia,” press release from the White House shared.

Replying to the question on Finland assisting US-Russian relations Trump said, “Finland is respected by Russia. Finland has been free of Russia, really — just about one of the few countries in the region that has been — for 100 years.  And Russia has a lot of respect for Finland, so that’s always good.  But I think Finland is doing fine with Russia, and I hope that the United States will someday be able to have a very good relationship with Russia also. I think that’s very good for world peace and for other things.”