NBC reporter Keir Simmons appeared eager to get Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov to say that his country "is on President Trump's side" during an interview airing Friday on the "Today Show," but Lavrov said his country was on the "side of justice."
Lavrov, who mocked Simmons' questions about possible other undisclosed meetings between President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin, repeated Kremlin denials of 2016 election interference and described Trump as fighting with the American establishment.
"The fight goes on," Lavrov said. "They want to make the life of this administration miserable. People try to speak about impeachment."
"It's a fight, though, you think? It's a fight for President Trump?" Simmons asked.
"It's absolutely a fight, but as I said, I—" Lavrov started.
"And Russia is on President Trump's side," Simmons said.
"No, we are on the side of justice," Lavrov said.
Lavrov went on to tell Simmons the Obama administration's seizure of Russia diplomatic compounds in retaliation for its election meddling was "straightforward robbery."
The investigation into Russian election interference and allegations of collusion between the Trump campaign and the Kremlin has dominated 2017 media coverage.