United States President Donald Trump recalled a conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin, saying Putin once told him, "If you're my friend, I'd hate to see my enemy."
Trump made the remark in an interview with Fox News while discussing his recent interactions with Putin. He defended his strong policies on Russia and also claimed that before his presidency, "nobody even heard of Nord Stream 2," referring to the Russian gas pipeline to Germany.
Nord Stream 2 has been a major geopolitical issue. While it was completed, it never became fully operational mainly due to US sanctions, imposed primarily during Trump's presidency. Trump's comments also follow criticism of his administration's recent moves with regard to Ukraine, including an explosive Oval Office meeting with President Volodymyr Zelensky, which drew criticism from many Democrats.
