MOSCOW: Russian President Vladimir Putin scoffed on Thursday at allegations of collusion between US President Donald Trump’s campaign and Russia, saying the reports have been “invented” by Trump’s foes and have hurt the US political system.

He also mocked his most visible critic, Alexei Navalny, who is barred from challenging Putin in the March 18 presidential vote due to an embezzlement conviction, saying those like him want to plunge Russia into a destabilised quagmire. He vowed not to let that happen.

Speaking at his annual marathon news conference, Putin reaffirmed his firm denial of meddling in the 2016 US presidential election.

“All of it was invented by people who oppose President Trump to undermine his legitimacy,” Putin said in remarks that had an uncanny resemblance to Trump’s arguments.

“I’m puzzled by that. People who do it are inflicting damage to the (US) domestic political situation, incapacitating the president and showing a lack of respect to voters who cast their ballots for him.”

Putin argued that Russian Ambassador Sergei Kislyak, whose contacts with Trump’s entourage are part of the FBI and Congressional probes into ties between the Trump campaign and Russia, was simply performing his routine duties.

Despite Putin’s comments, US intelligence agencies have concluded that Russia interfered in the election to help the Republican Trump defeat Democrat Hillary Clinton. Trump last month lashed out at those agencies’ former heads, calling them “political hacks” and arguing there were plenty of reasons to be suspicious of their findings.

Putin also hailed Trump’s achievements, saying that global markets have demonstrated investors’ confidence in Trump’s economic course. The Russian leader said he and Trump had spoken on a first-name basis on the sidelines of two international summits this year and voiced hope that Trump eventually would be able to fulfill his campaign promises to improve ties with Russia.

Putin emphasised that the two countries need to cooperate on tackling global challenges and that Russia is ready for “constructive” cooperation on tackling the North Korean standoff.

Putin has warned the US not to use force against North Korea, adding that the consequences will be “catastrophic.” He emphasised that Russia opposes Pyongyang’s nuclear bid, but added the US had “provoked” Pyongyang into developing its nuclear and missile programs by spiking a 2005 deal under which North Korea agreed to halt them.

Putin said Moscow was encouraged to hear US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson’s statement about readiness for talks with Pyongyang, hailing it as a “realistic” approach.

He pointed out, however, that the US sanctions put Russia on par with Iran and North Korea, noting that it looks “weird” in light of the fact that Washington expects Russia to cooperate in tackling the North Korean crisis.

The Russian leader also voiced concern about the US considering a pullout from key nuclear arms control pacts, adding that Moscow intends to stick to them.

He noted that Russia is particularly worried about what he described as US violations of the INF Treaty, a Cold-War era pact banning intermediate range missiles. The US has accused Russia of pact violations charges that Russia has denied. Putin said the US accusations are part of a “propaganda” campaign to pave the way for the US withdrawal.

Published in Dawn, December 15th, 2017