Russian President Vladimir Putin told<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/us-democrats-urge-acting-attorney-general-to-step-aside-from-russia-probe-176775"> US vice president Mike Pence</a> that Russia had nothing to do with meddling in the 2016 US election, Interfax reported on Monday, during discussions about an upcoming meeting between Putin and President Donald Trump.

Putin and Pence spoke in Singapore last week about key issues that could be discussed at the meeting between the two leaders, expected to take place at the G20 summit in Argentina in late November, a Kremlin spokesman said.

Pence raised the issue of external meddling in the US election but Putin told him that "the Russian state had nothing to do ... and can not have anything to do with meddling" in any electoral processes, Interfax quoted Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov as saying.

Last week, President Trump had called the Russia investigations as "disgrace to the nation", after he fired attorney general Jeff Sessions.

"They have found no collusion and have gone absolutely nuts. They are screaming and shouting at people, horribly threatening them to come up with the answers they want," Trump wrote on Twitter.

"They are a disgrace to our Nation and don't care how many lives (they) ruin."

Amid the row, top Democrats stepped up pressure on acting US Attorney General Matthew Whitaker to step aside from overseeing a special counsel probe into Russian meddling in the 2016 US presidential election, vowing to order him to testify early next year.

Democrats have increasingly expressed alarm since last week, when President Donald Trump ordered Attorney General Jeff Sessions to resign and replaced him with Whitaker, Sessions' chief of staff.

Russian President Vladimir Putin told US vice president Mike Pence that Russia had nothing to do with meddling in the 2016 US election, Interfax reported on Monday, during discussions about an upcoming meeting between Putin and President Donald Trump.

Russian President Vladimir Putin told US vice president Mike Pence that Russia had nothing to do with meddling in the 2016 US election, Interfax reported on Monday, during discussions about an upcoming meeting between Putin and President Donald Trump. Putin and Pence spoke in Singapore last week about key issues that could be discussed at the meeting between the two leaders, expected to take place at the G20 summit in Argentina in late November, a Kremlin spokesman said. Pence raised the issue of external meddling in the US election but Putin told him that "the Russian state had nothing to do ... and can not have anything to do with meddling" in any electoral processes, Interfax quoted Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov as saying. Last week, President Trump had called the Russia investigations as "disgrace to the nation", after he fired attorney general Jeff Sessions. "They have found no collusion and have gone absolutely nuts. They are screaming and shouting at people, horribly threatening them to come up with the answers they want," Trump wrote on Twitter. "They are a disgrace to our Nation and don't care how many lives (they) ruin." Amid the row, top Democrats stepped up pressure on acting US Attorney General Matthew Whitaker to step aside from overseeing a special counsel probe into Russian meddling in the 2016 US presidential election, vowing to order him to testify early next year. Democrats have increasingly expressed alarm since last week, when President Donald Trump ordered Attorney General Jeff Sessions to resign and replaced him with Whitaker, Sessions' chief of staff.

Russia had nothing to do with meddling in 2016 US elections: Putin to US vice president Pence

Last month, chairing a UN Security Council meeting on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York, Trump had alleged that China was trying to interfere in the 2018 mid-term polls and that it did not want him to be the president. China has denied these allegations.

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/china-bemoans-confusing-us-signals-but-holds-hope-for-trump-xi-meet-171472">Also Read:&nbsp;China bemoans 'confusing' US signals but holds hope for </a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/china-bemoans-confusing-us-signals-but-holds-hope-for-trump-xi-meet-171472">Trump-Xi</a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/china-bemoans-confusing-us-signals-but-holds-hope-for-trump-xi-meet-171472"> meet</a>

However, for the first time Trump came out in open to say that China also meddled in the 2016 presidential elections.

"They (Russians) meddled. But I think China meddled too," Trump told CBS News's popular '60 Minutes' in an interview. Recorded on Thursday, the interview was broadcast on Sunday night.

"I think China meddled also. And I think, frankly, China...is a bigger problem," Trump said and denied that by saying so he is not trying to divert the entire Russia thing.

"I'm saying Russia, but I'm also saying China," he said.&nbsp;

But it's the investigation of Russia's intervention in the 2016 election that hangs over his presidency and caused a rift with his Attorney General Jeff Sessions, because he recused himself from the inquiry.

Trump expressed disappointment that his Attorney General Jeff Sessions rescued himself from the Russia investigation.

"I was disappointed that he recused himself and many people think I was right on that. I was very disappointed. Why should he have recused himself? So I was very disappointed," he said.&nbsp;

Former FBI director Robert Mueller is conducting investigations into the allegations of Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election.

Responding to a question, he said he has no intention of shutting down the Russian investigation. "Well, I don't pledge anything. But (I) will tell you, I have no intention of doing that. I think it's a very unfair investigation because there was no collusion of any kind," he said.

To date, 32 people have been charged or pleaded guilty in Special Counsel Robert Mueller's investigation. President Trump's campaign chairman, top campaign aide, former national security advisor and longtime personal attorney are all cooperating in the inquiry, which the president calls a witch-hunt.

Trump questioned the very proposition that he called Russia to help him in the elections. "Do you really think I'd call Russia to help me with an election? Give me a break. They wouldn't be able to help me at all. Call Russia. It's so ridiculous," he said.

Last month, chairing a UN Security Council meeting on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York, Trump had alleged that China was trying to interfere in the 2018 mid-term polls and that it did not want him to be the president.

Last month, chairing a UN Security Council meeting on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York, Trump had alleged that China was trying to interfere in the 2018 mid-term polls and that it did not want him to be the president. China has denied these allegations. Also Read: China bemoans 'confusing' US signals but holds hope for Trump-Xi meet However, for the first time Trump came out in open to say that China also meddled in the 2016 presidential elections. "They (Russians) meddled. But I think China meddled too," Trump told CBS News's popular '60 Minutes' in an interview. Recorded on Thursday, the interview was broadcast on Sunday night. "I think China meddled also. And I think, frankly, China...is a bigger problem," Trump said and denied that by saying so he is not trying to divert the entire Russia thing. "I'm saying Russia, but I'm also saying China," he said. But it's the investigation of Russia's intervention in the 2016 election that hangs over his presidency and caused a rift with his Attorney General Jeff Sessions, because he recused himself from the inquiry. Trump expressed disappointment that his Attorney General Jeff Sessions rescued himself from the Russia investigation. "I was disappointed that he recused himself and many people think I was right on that. I was very disappointed. Why should he have recused himself? So I was very disappointed," he said. Former FBI director Robert Mueller is conducting investigations into the allegations of Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election. Responding to a question, he said he has no intention of shutting down the Russian investigation. "Well, I don't pledge anything. But (I) will tell you, I have no intention of doing that. I think it's a very unfair investigation because there was no collusion of any kind," he said. To date, 32 people have been charged or pleaded guilty in Special Counsel Robert Mueller's investigation. President Trump's campaign chairman, top campaign aide, former national security advisor and longtime personal attorney are all cooperating in the inquiry, which the president calls a witch-hunt. Trump questioned the very proposition that he called Russia to help him in the elections. "Do you really think I'd call Russia to help me with an election? Give me a break. They wouldn't be able to help me at all. Call Russia. It's so ridiculous," he said.

Russia and China meddled in 2016 presidential elections: Trump

trump-on-russia-meddling

Trump On Russia Meddling, News on Trump On Russia Meddling, stories on Trump On Russia Meddling, articles on Trump On Russia Meddling, Trump On Russia Meddling stories at Wion, Trump On Russia Meddling news, Trump On Russia Meddling latest news

trump on-russia-meddling

Russia had nothing to do with meddling in 2016 US elections: Putin to US vice president Pence

Russia and China meddled in 2016 presidential elections: Trump