Vladimir Putin has denied that Russia has a secret stash of ‘compromising material’ on Donald Trump.
Asked about the existence of the dossier during a press conference in Helsinki on Monday, Putin said: ‘I did hear these rumours that we allegedly collected compromising material on Mr Trump when he was visiting Moscow.
‘When President Trump was visiting Moscow back then I didn’t even know he was in Moscow.’
Putin insisted that he treated Trump with ‘utter respect’ and again denied knowing that the then tycoon was in town during the 2013 trip in question.
Trump has strongly denied totally unconfirmed claims that he watched Russian prostitutes urinate on each other during that trip, amid claims the alleged encounter was covertly filmed.
And today Putin insisted claims of such a dossier or tape that could be used as leverage were ‘Utter nonsense,’ adding: ‘Please disregard these issues.’
He also again denied claims Russia interefered in the 2016 US presidential election, saying: ‘I had to reiterate things.,
‘I said several times that the Russian state has never interfered and is not going to intefere in internal American affairs including election processes.’
Putin said Russia and the US could ‘analyse together’ the claims which form the basis of special counsel Robert Mueller’s ongoing investigation into alleged collusion.
He also invited Mueller himself to come to Russia, with President Trump apparently happy with Putin’s suggestions.
Trump, who has long branded the probe a ‘witch hunt’ hail Putin for his ‘extremely strong and powerful denial’ of collusion.
He also called Putin’s offer to Mueller’s team to work with their Russian counterparts as ‘incredible.’
He added: ‘Duing todays meeting I addressed directly with President Putin the issue of russian interference in our elections…
‘We spent a great deal of time talking about it.
‘President Putin feels very strongly about it and has a very interesting idea.’
He spoke despite 12 Russians being indicted by special counsel Robert Mueller Friday over claims they hacked Democrat computers and spread damaging material about the party ahead of the 2016 election.
Trump said he and Putin had also discussed the United States and Russia solving the Syrian conflict together.
And he repeated his desire to work with his Russian counterpart to destroy their huge arsenals of nuclear weapons.
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