Russian envoy: Flynn and I talked about ‘simple things’

in New York THE former Russian ambassador to the US has insisted that he discussed merely “the most simple things” in his conversation with Michael Flynn, as reports in the US suggested federal investigators were closing in on Mr Trump’s former national security adviser.

Mr Flynn was forced to resign in February, becoming the shortest-lived national security adviser in history, after it emerged that he had misled Mike Pence, the vice president, about his discussions with Sergei Kislyak, the Russian ambassador.

Senior officials who have reviewed the phone call between the two men told The Washington Post they thought Mr Flynn’s statements to Mr Kislyak were inappropriate, if not illegal, because he suggested the Kremlin could expect a reprieve from US sanctions.

Mr Kislyak, speaking yesterday for the first time about his conversations with Mr Flynn, denied anything improper had taken place.

“We only spoke about the most simple things, but the communication was completely correct, calm, absolutely transparent,” said Mr Kislyak, in a panel discussion on Russian television.

“There are a number of issues which are important for cooperation between Russia and the United States – most of all, terrorism. And that was one of the things we discussed,” he added.

Mr Kislyak left Washington in July, ending his tenure as ambassador. He was at the centre of numerous controversial meetings involving senior Trump administration officials.

Attorney General Jeff Sessions removed himself from the FBI’s investigation into alleged Russian election interference after failing to disclose two meetings with Mr Kislyak.