Politics

“I don't know him”

Putin denies close ties with former national security adviser Flynn

Russian President Vladimir Putin has played down his relationship with former U.S. national security adviser Michael Flynn, saying that he “didn’t even really talk to him.”

In a trailer for an interview with NBC’s Megyn Kelly released Sunday, the Russian premier says that he sat next to Flynn at a dinner in late 2015, but only made polite small talk. A picture of the two men was widely circulated after President Trump appointed Flynn as his adviser, and fueled speculation about Trump’s ties to Russia. The president fired Flynn in February for his failure to disclose contacts with Russian ambassador Sergei Kislyak, and for lying to Vice President Mike Pence.

“You and I, you and I personally,” Putin told Kelly, according to a partial transcript released by the network. “have a much closer relationship than I had with Mr. Flynn. You and I met yesterday evening. You and I have been working together all day today. And now we’re meeting again.”