Putin: US hurts itself with 'invented' Trump collusion case

MOSCOW (AP) — Russian President Vladimir Putin scoffed today at allegations of collusion between U.S. President Donald Trump's campaign and Russia, saying the reports have been "invented" by Trump's foes and have hurt the U.S. 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 destabilized 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 U.S. 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 [U.S.] 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, U.S. intelligence agencies have concluded 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.