Several Russian media outlets defended President Trump Donald John TrumpBiden on Trump's refusal to commit to peaceful transfer of power: 'What country are we in?' Romney: 'Unthinkable and unacceptable' to not commit to peaceful transition of power Two Louisville police officers shot amid Breonna Taylor grand jury protests MORE ahead of his Monday summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Helsinki, according to The Associated Press.

A number of Russian outlets on Monday morning framed Trump as an embattled hero fending off domestic distractions including special counsel Robert Mueller Robert (Bob) MuellerCNN's Toobin warns McCabe is in 'perilous condition' with emboldened Trump CNN anchor rips Trump over Stone while evoking Clinton-Lynch tarmac meeting The Hill's 12:30 Report: New Hampshire fallout MORE's investigation and disloyal GOP lawmakers, the AP reported.

Trump is facing mounting pressure in the U.S. to confront Putin over Russia's interference in the 2016 presidential election. His meeting with Putin comes just days after the special counsel indicted 12 Russian intelligence officials for conspiring to influence the 2016 presidential election by hacking U.S. systems.

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Pro-Kremlin Russian media outlets have attacked Mueller's investigation into Trump's "mythical work for the Kremlin" and wrote it off as implausible, the AP reported.

Several Russian media figures also praised Trump for his claim on Sunday that the European Union is a “foe” of the U.S.

The European Union and Kremlin have long clashed over allegations that Russia works to destabilize countries in the European bloc.

One Russian lawmaker, Konstantin Kosachev, wrote that the U.S.-Russia summit comes as "so-called ‘peace-loving’ Europe is afraid of peace talks between U.S. and Russia," the AP reported.

The Russian government is noted for its continued suppression of press freedom and media independence, particularly its targeting of journalists and government ownership of mass media outlets.

Critics have slammed Trump for his repeated attacks of U.S. media outlets in recent days, claiming he is eroding faith in journalism as he enters talks with a government that regularly censors its people.

Trump called the news media the "enemy of the people" over the weekend, and refused to take a question from CNN, calling the outlet "fake news."