Former President Donald Trump, right, shakes hands with Russian President Vladimir PutinFormer US president Donald Trump has played down his connections to Russia once again.Speculation around the Republican nominee’s links to Moscow and president Vladimir Putin has been rising in recent weeks as the US election looms ever closer.Journalist Bob Woodward wrote in his book War – published last month – that Putin and Trump had up to seven conversations over the phone since the latter left the White House.Both sides have denied the claims.But the Republican nominee revived this speculation when speaking to right-wing interviewer