US President Donald Trump said on Thursday that he trusts that Russian President Vladimir Putin will not violate the peace deal in Ukraine, CNN reports.

“I think I think he's I've spoken to him. I've known him for a long time now. You know we had we had to go through the Russian hoax together,” Trump said, using the term he has used to describe the investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 US presidential election.

As he prepares to meet with Putin to discuss the Ukrainian conflict, Trump has not expressed skepticism about his counterpart’s intentions.

“I think he’ll keep his word. I’ve known him for a long time now, and I think he will. I don’t believe he’s going to violate his word. I don’t think he’ll be back when we make a deal. I think the deal is going to hold now," Trump said.

And when a reporter pointed out the differences between Trump and his Oval Office guest, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who had said Putin couldn't be trusted, Trump explained his approach to Putin.

"Look it's trust and verify, let's call it that. And I think we both ... You have to verify because you never know what's going to happen," Trump concluded.