Why did Donald Trump refuse to confirm his communications with Vladimir Putin after the 2016 election?

Donald Trump demonstrated a striking pattern of evasiveness when asked about communications with Vladimir Putin after the 2016 election. When directly questioned by journalists, he repeatedly claimed it was "inappropriate" to discuss whether he had spoken with Putin, despite openly bragging about conversations with numerous other world leaders including controversial figures like President Xi Jinping of China. This selective secrecy about Putin communications stands in sharp contrast to Trump's otherwise enthusiastic public announcements about diplomatic calls with leaders from France, Israel, Saudi Arabia, and many others. His refusal to confirm or deny contact with Putin raised significant concerns about the nature of their relationship and potential implications for U.S.-Russia relations during his presidency.