Kremlin, Russian lawmakers play down Flynn’s resignation
MOSCOW — The Kremlin on Tuesday played down the resignation of U.S. National Security Adviser Michael Flynn, a sign that Russia is already looking ahead to talks with the U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson to improve the nations’ strained ties.
Flynn was often perceived as Donald Trump’s key contact with Moscow. In 2015, Flynn appeared at a gala dinner for Russia Today, a Kremlin-funded television station, and even sat next to President Vladimir Putin at the event.
Flynn resigned Monday night after conceding that he gave “incomplete information” about his calls with Russia’s ambassador to U.S. officials.
A U.S. official told The Associated Press that Flynn was in frequent contact with Russian Ambassador Sergey Kislyak on the day that the Obama administration imposed sanctions on Russia after U.S. intelligence reported that Russia had interfered with last year’s American election. The Kremlin has confirmed that Flynn has been in contact with Kislyak but denied that they talked about lifting sanctions.