President Putin affirms 'not acquainted with former US adviser Michael Flynn'

In an interview broadcast on NBC on the evening of June 4, Russian President Vladimir Putin said he did not have any relationship with former US National Security Advisor Michael Flynn but just happened to sit at the same table at a party.

Russian President Vladimir Putin (right) sits next to former US National Security Adviser Michael Flynn at a party in Russia in December 2015. Photo: Reuters

In an interview with NBC on the evening of June 4, Russian President Vladimir Putin affirmed that he had no relationship with former US National Security Advisor Michael Flynn and that he had just happened to sit at the same table at a party honoring the Russian TV channel Russia Today (RT) in December 2015.

“After he finished his speech, he and I talked about a few things. Then I got up and left. Then someone said to me, ‘You know, he’s an American gentleman. He’s involved in some things. He used to work in the security service.’”

That's it. I didn't even really talk to him. That's the extent of my acquaintance with Mr. Flynn," President Putin said.

Russian President Vladimir Putin (center) and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi (second from left) answer questions from NBC reporters. Photo: AP

Michael Flynn was appointed by US President Donald Trump to the position of US National Security Advisor. But not long after, Flynn was asked by Mr. Trump to resign because he did not tell the whole truth about his relationship with Russian Ambassador to the US Sergei Kislyak. Mr. Flynn's term in office lasted exactly 24 days.

The ties that Flynn and other Trump aides had with Russian officials and bankers are under scrutiny after US intelligence agencies concluded that Russian hackers interfered in the 2016 US presidential election.

Despite the suspicions surrounding his ties to Russia, Mr. Flynn has refused to appear publicly before the US Senate Intelligence Committee on the issue.

According to TPO