Putin: US relations ‘are getting worse and worse’

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday said relations between his nation and the U.S. are on the decline in an interview with Russia’s Mir TV, according to Reuters.

“They are going downhill, they are getting worse and worse,” Putin said, according to a Kremlin transcript. “The current administration has approved, in my opinion, several dozen decisions on sanctions against Russia in recent years.”

{mosads}Putin noted that the worsening relationship between Russia and the U.S. comes at the same time as he feels Moscow is gaining a stronger alliance with China.

Last week, during a state visit to Russia by Chinese President Xi Jinping, Putin said between the two are at an “unprecedented level.”

On Wednesday, President Trump told reporters he planned to meet with Putin in Japan at the Group of 20 summit a day after the Kremlin said such a meeting was “hanging in the air,” according to Reuters.

In addition to sanctions, U.S.-Russia relations have been strained over Russia’s presence in Venezuela.

Russia has offered support for embattled Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro. The United States has backed opposition leader Juan Guaidó as the nation’s leader.

Trump has repeatedly called for Russian personnel to leave the nation, announcing last week that they had “removed most of their people,” which the Kremlin has contradicted.

“We really hope that common sense will prevail in the end,” said Putin of the Venezuelan conflict, according to Reuters.

“That with all of our partners, including our American partners … we can reach some decisions in the framework of the forthcoming G20 that will be constructive and create the necessary stable conditions for economic cooperation,” Putin added.