Russian President Vladimir Putin has denied claims of maintaining contact with former US President Donald Trump, as the two countries’ diplomatic relations continue to deteriorate.

At a press conference held in the western Russian city of Kazan, where the 16th BRICS summit recently came to a close, Putin addressed allegations of ties with Trump. According to a book titled “Wars” by veteran journalist Bob Woodward, Trump and Putin reportedly spoke at least seven times since Trump left office. When questioned about these claims by NBC’s correspondent, Putin dismissed them outright, saying, “There were no contacts back then, and there are none now.”

Putin also touched on the topic of alleged Russian interference in the upcoming US polls, drawing comparisons to past accusations. “We were accused of this, and Trump himself of being somehow connected with Russia,” he said. “Then, as a result of an investigation in the United States itself, everyone concluded, including in the Congress, as far as I know, that this was complete nonsense, that nothing of the kind had ever happened.”

The remarks come as the United States prepares to elect a new president on November 5. Putin stressed that the normalization of ties between Russia and the US depends on the next administration. Relations between the two countries have continued to decline over the years, hitting a new low after the escalation in the war in Ukraine in 2022.

During the Biden administration, several measures aimed at degrading Russia’s economy have been enforced. The strained relations between the two nations will likely continue until significant efforts are made to improve diplomatic ties. As Putin made clear, any progress depends on the outcome of the US presidential election and the approach of the next administration.