Vladimir Putin says it's complete nonsense that Russia meddled in US election

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday called an alleged influence on the US2016 election by Russia a "total nonsense".

Speaking in a live TV question-and-answer marathon, he said that possible Russian interference in the USelection process "can only be called a joke".

Putin, who easily won re-election in March, has used the annual phone-in with citizens to cast himself as a decisive troubleshooter on the home front and a staunch defender of Russia's interests on the world stage.

In April, the United States imposed sanctions on some of Russia's biggest companies and businessmen, striking at allies of Putin to punish Moscow for its alleged meddling in the 2016 U.S. presidential election and other "malign activities".