"They’re a very important nation. We’re the most powerful nation, they’re a very powerful nation. Why would we not be dealing with each other? But the Russia hoax is absolute dishonest hoax, made it very difficult for our nation and their nation to deal and we discussed that. I said it's a very appropriate time because things are falling out now and coming in line showing what a hoax thins whole investigation was," Trump told reporters at the White House.
Trump was referring to the latest development related to the Russia probe. Earlier on Thursday, the US Justice Department announced it was dropping criminal charges against former National Security Adviser Michael Flynn.
Trump added in Thursday's remarks that he would not be surprised if more similar announcements emerge in the "next number of weeks."
Last week, Flynn's lawyers said newly-unsealed documents revealed that the FBI tried to set him up.
Flynn had been probed for lying to FBI investigators about holding conversations with then Russian Ambassador to the United States Sergey Kislyak, including regarding the prospects for lifting US sanctions against Russia.
Russian officials have repeatedly rejected US election-meddling accusations, calling them an excuse by some for failing to win the 2016 election and an attempt to deflect public attention from real instances of electoral fraud and corruption.
