The founder of the private military company Blackwater reportedly met with a rep for Russian President Vladimir Putin in an attempt to establish a back channel between the Trump administration and Russia, a report said Monday.

The businessman, Erik Prince — brother of Education Secretary Betsy DeVos — met with the Russian in the Seychelles Islands in the Indian Ocean at the behest of the United Arab Emirates on Jan. 11, nine days before President Trump’s inauguration, according to the Washington Post.

The report adds another layer to the complicated relationship between Trump confidants and the Russian government.

In response, the White House said, “We are not aware of any meetings.”