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Friday 15 december 2017

Putin says Trump foes harm US with Russia collusion probes

By V. ISACHENKOV voiced concern about the
and K. DE PURY U.S. considering a pullout
Associated Press from key nuclear arms con-
MOSCOW (AP) — President trol pacts.
Vladimir Putin said Thurs- He insisted that Russia has
day the U.S. is only hurting observed the 1987 INF Trea-
itself with investigations of ty banning intermediate
alleged collusion between range missiles and charged
President Donald Trump’s that the U.S. claims of al-
campaign and Russia, and leged Russian violations are
the Kremlin leader vowed part of a “propaganda”
he won’t allow the radi- campaign to pave the
cal opposition at home to way for the U.S. withdrawal.
challenge the status quo as He also blamed the U.S. for
he seeks re-election. violating the pact, a claim
At his annual news confer- that Washington has de-
ence, Putin also mocked nied.
his most visible critic, Alexei Putin also said that Rus-
Navalny, saying that those sia wants to keep the 2010
like the opposition leader New Start Treaty, which
want to drive Russia into limited the U.S. and Rus-
chaos ahead of the March sian nuclear arsenals to no
18 presidential election in Russian President Vladimir Putin gestures while speaking during his annual news conference in more than 1,550 deployed
Russia. Moscow, Russia, Thursday, Dec. 14, 2017. nuclear warheads for each
Brimming with self-confi- (Alexei Nikolsky, Sputnik, Kremlin via AP) country. The treaty is set to
dence during the nearly of reasons to be suspicious course. the consequences will be expire in 2021, but the par-
four-hour session, Putin re- of their findings. “We can objectively see “catastrophic.” ties could agree to extend
affirmed his denial of in- Putin said Russian Ambas- quite serious achievements He emphasized that Russia it.
terference in the 2016 U.S. sador Sergei Kislyak, whose even during his short time in opposes Pyongyang’s nu- Putin noted that some in
presidential election. contacts with Trump’s office,” Putin said. clear ambitions, but added the U.S. want to do away
“All of it was invented by campaign are part of the The Russian leader said he the U.S. had “provoked” with the treaty and warned
people who oppose Presi- probes by Congress and and Trump had spoken on the North into developing that “it would be very bad
dent Trump to undermine special counsel Robert a first-name basis on the its nuclear and missile pro- for international stability
his legitimacy,” Putin said Mueller, was only perform- sidelines of two internation- grams. and security.”
in remarks that mirrored ing his routine duties. al summits this year, and he Putin said Moscow was en- He emphasized that Russia
Trump’s arguments. “I’m “It’s a universally accepted voiced hope that Trump couraged by U.S. Secre- will “ensure its security with-
puzzled by that. People practice when diplomatic eventually would be able tary of State Rex Tillerson’s out entering an arms race,”
who do it are inflicting envoys and even govern- to fulfill his campaign prom- statement about readiness noting that Moscow’s mili-
damage to the country’s ment officials meet candi- ises to improve ties with Rus- for talks with Pyongyang, tary spending next year will
domestic political situation, dates and their teams to sia. hailing it as a “realistic” ap- amount to some 2.8 trillion
incapacitating the presi- discuss some issues, pros- “I hope that he would proach. rubles (about $47 billion),
dent and showing a lack of pects for development, gradually have opportuni- He pointed out, howev- compared with the Pen-
respect to voters who cast trying to get an idea what ties to establish contacts er, that the U.S. sanctions tagon’s budget of about
their ballots for him.” they will do if they come to with Russia,” he added. against Russia have put $700 billion.
U.S. intelligence agencies power and how to respond Putin emphasized the coun- Moscow on a par with Iran Putin, who announced
have concluded that Russia to that,” Putin said. “What is tries need to cooperate on and North Korea. He said it his bid for re-election last
interfered in the election to extraordinary about it and tackling global challenges looks “weird” in view of the week, said he would run
help Trump, a Republican, why should it trigger some and that Russia is ready for fact that Washington ex- as a self-nominated can-
defeat Democrat Hillary sort of spy mania?” “constructive” cooperation pects Moscow’s coopera- didate, keeping his dis-
Clinton. Trump last month Putin also praised Trump’s on tackling the North Kore- tion in tackling the North tance from the main Krem-
lashed out at those agen- successes, saying that an standoff. Korean crisis. lin party, United Russia,
cies’ former heads, calling global markets have dem- Putin has warned the U.S. “It’s beyond reason,” he which has many members
them “political hacks” and onstrated investors’ con- not to use force against said. dogged by accusations of
arguing there were plenty fidence in his economic North Korea, adding that The Russian leader also corruption.q