Trump describes relationship with Putin as 'strong' despite no contact
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Trump says he could achieve peace in the conflict between Russia and Ukraine within 24 hours if he becomes President.
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Former President Donald Trump speaks at Trump National Golf Club in Bedminster, N.J., Tuesday, June 13, 2023 (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik, File)
In an interview with Fox News, former US President Donald Trump described his relationship with Russian President Vladimir Putin as "very good" and "strong" despite not speaking to him for a long time.
"With Putin, I have a very good relationship. I mean, I haven't spoken to him in a long while, but I had a very strong relationship," Trump said.
Trump reiterated his claims about preventing the outbreak of the war in Ukraine had he been President.
Trump added that he had warned Putin against military action in Ukraine, prior to launching the military operation, saying that it would be a "catastrophe" and that there's going to be "hell to pay".
"He did not believe me... except maybe only 10 percent. And 10 percent was all you needed," Trump added.
Trump reemphasized his claim that he could achieve peace in the conflict between Russia and Ukraine within 24 hours.
Check out: FBI fails to prove the Trump-Russia hoax
Following Donald Trump's 37-count indictment, a number of prominent Republicans, including potential presidential candidates Mike Pence and Asa Hutchinson, denounced the handling of secret material by the former US president, earlier this week.
The remarks were made on the first round of significant weekend political talk shows after Trump pleaded not guilty in a Miami courthouse last Tuesday to mishandling some of the most delicate secrets of the US government. They included severe criticism from the former Trump Defense Secretary Mark Esper.
These were among the several documents that Trump carried with him from the White House in an effort to hide them from investigators.
The comments made on Sunday stand in stark contrast to many Republicans in Congress who have either defended Trump or refrained from criticizing him.
Pence, Trump's former Vice President, said on NBC's Meet the Press, in reference to his ex-boss' actions in the documents scandal, "I can't defend what is alleged."
Former Arkansas governor William Asa Hutchinson went further, describing the accusations as "serious and disqualifying."
"I think that he should drop out" of the 2024 race, he told ABC's This Week.
Read: Trump says has right to take 'whatever' documents home
