REUTERS

But even if it's true they're not locking lips like they are in a mural painted on the side of a Lithuanian barbecue joint, public utterances suggest Trump and Putin are in a mutual admiration society of sorts — and have been on each other's radars for years.

In response to an inquiry from NBC News, a Kremlin spokesman insisted Putin and Trump haven't spoken.

"We've said it many times before, President Putin has never had any contacts with Trump, never spoken to him, including by telephone," Dmitry Peskov said. "The same goes for all of his staff."

Видео дня

Read alsoAvakov calls Trump "dangerous" following statement on occupied CrimeaAt the same time, it is noted that Trump earlier said about his relationship with Putin, but later he refuted those words.

For example, on June 18, 2013, Trump mused about becoming bosom buddies with Putin.

"Will he become my new best friend?" Trump asked of Putin in a tweet wondering whether the Russian leader would attend the 2013 Miss Universe pageant Trump brought to Moscow.