Trump: 'No guarantee' on Russia relations

US President Donald Trump has said he wants a "great relationship" with Russia, but would not say if he would lift US sanctions against the country.

Mr Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin will speak on Saturday, according to the White House and Kremlin.

They are expected to discuss bilateral affairs and national security in the first call since the inauguration.

But Mr Trump said it was "very early" to talk about the sanctions imposed on the country by his predecessor.

He was asked about his plans in a joint press conference with UK Prime Minister Theresa May on her visit to Washington - the first national leader to be welcomed by the president.

We will see what happens," said Mr Trump. "We look to have a great relationship with all countries, ideally. That won't necessarily happen, unfortunately, [and it] probably won't happen with many countries.

"But if we could have [a relationship] as we do with Prime Minister May… if we can have a great relationship with Russia and with China and with all countries, I am all for that.

"That would be a tremendous asset. No guarantees, but if we can, that would be a positive, not a negative."

Mrs May said the UK had been "very clear" that sanctions should remain in place until the Minsk agreement, stopping the war between Russia and Ukraine, had been fully implemented.

Republicans have expressed opposition to any softer White House line against Moscow.

Senator John McCain - a vocal critic of Mr Putin, who has called him a "thug" - said that it would be a "reckless course" and he would pursue legislation to enforce the sanctions.

And two of the party's key political leaders have warned against dropping the sanctions, in interviews with Politico magazine.

Mitch McConnell, the Republican leader in the Senate, told the publication: "These sanctions were imposed because of their behaviour in Crimea, eastern Ukraine and now we know they've been messing around in our elections as well."

"If there's any country in the world that doesn't deserve sanctions relief, it's Russia," he said.

Republican Speaker of the House, Paul Ryan, also said "I think they should stay," adding that the measures had been "overdue" when implemented.