On Tuesday, Russian President Vladimir Putin seemed to distance himself from President Donald Trump when he answered a question about whether or not he was disappointed in the U.S. president.
"Your question sounds very naive," Putin told a reporter after he was asked if he was "disappointed" with Trump, according to The Moscow Times. Putin was speaking at the last day of the BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) summit in China.
"He is not my bride, neither am I his bride or groom," Putin added. "Each side has its own interest."
Moscow and Washington have exchanged tit-for-tat crackdowns on diplomats in their respective countries since Trump's predecessor made the decision to expel 35 Russian diplomats in December in response to alleged Russian interference with the 2016 presidential election -- allegations that Putin has vehemently denied and Trump has been hesitant to comment on.
Trump oddly thanked Putin after the Russian president announced the expulsion of 755 U.S. diplomats from the country in response to U.S. sanctions.
But Putin has appeared to distance himself from Trump, despite Trump's numerous compliments of the Russian president over time. When asked about a possible impeachment of Trump, he didn't give a direct answer, but instead reflected on some history of the Oval Office.
"It could be worth remembering," Putin pointed out, according to The Moscow Times, "not all American presidents have reached the end of their term."
Special counsel Robert Mueller is still conducting an ongoing investigation into the Trump campaign's alleged ties to the Russian government and whether or not the two entities worked together to ensure Trump defeat Hillary Clinton.
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