President Trump’s relationship with Vladimir Putin is minimal, but it gets plenty of attention in the media. Despite the limited contact between the two, Trump often expresses his admiration for Putin and a desire for better relations with Moscow. CGTN’s Nathan King reports.

From the beginning of his campaign for the U.S. Presidency, Donald Trump has defied almost the entire U.S. foreign policy establishment, expressing hope of a better relationship with the Russian President.

However, this desire runs counter to the realities of the U.S.-Russia relationship. Washington has imposed sanctions over Russia’s annexation of Crimea and its actions in eastern Ukraine, and is also on the opposite side in the Syrian civil war. U.S. intelligence agencies have concluded that Russia interfered in the 2016 Presidential election.

But U.S. President Trump sweeps these differences aside, suggesting instead that a better personal relationship with Vladimir Putin could solve many of the problems between the two former Cold War foes.

“Somebody was saying, ‘Is he an enemy?’ He’s not my enemy. ‘Is he a friend?’ No, I don’t know him well enough.” said Donald Trump, “But the couple of times I’ve gotten to meet him, we get along very well.”

The fact that U.S. President Trump said these words at a NATO summit while criticizing his allies for a so-called lack of defense spending has lead to a bout of global, collective head scratching. Why, when it comes to Putin, many ask, does Trump seem to give him a pass?

Political opponents point to Trump’s business links with Russia dating back a decade, including the Trump-owned 2013 Miss Universe pageant held in Moscow, plans for a Trump Tower in Moscow, and significant flows of Russian money through his real estate empire.

Then there is the Muller investigation into potential ties between the Trump campaign and Russians who wanted to prevent Hillary Clinton from winning the 2016 race. That probe continues and is a cloud hanging over the Trump presidency.

On the eve of the Helsinki summit, fears are that Trump’s desire for a stronger personal relationship with Putin could lead to concessions to Moscow that run counter to U.S. interests.

In characteristic Trump fashion, the U.S. President recently mocked his critics. “‘Will President Trump be prepared? You know, President Putin is KGB!’ This and that. You know what? Putin is fine. He’s fine. We are all fine. We are all people. Will I be prepared? I’ve been preparing for this stuff my whole life.”

Brian Beary discusses upcoming Putin-Trump summit and impact