'DON'T TELL ANYONE'
Vladimir Putin jokes he’s ‘definitely’ going to interfere with 2020 US Presidential Election
VLADIMIR Putin last night joked he was "definitely" going to interfere with the 2020 US Presidential election - adding: "Just don't tell anyone."
The Russian premier - who the FBI said mounted a huge effort to meddle in the 2016 vote - made the quip as he attended an energy summit.
He was asked about Western concerns over Kremlin-backed agents using social media and other means to influence elections.
And when quizzed if Moscow would interfere in the US vote next year, Putin mockingly put his hand over his mouth.
The Russian president then jokingly whispered: "'I'll tell you a secret.
"Yes, sure, we're definitely going to do that."
Putin, who appeared on stage at the Russian Energy Week event, then added: "Just don't tell anyone."
DEFENDS TRUMP
US President Donald Trump's time in office has been marred by allegations his campaign colluded with the Russians to seal his 2016 victory.
Trump and his allies have furiously denied the claims - insisting they're lies spread by seething Democrat rivals and a critical media.
Putin then took aim at the Mueller Report, which concluded that Russia tried to swing the 2016 election in Trump's favour.
It did not establish evidence of direct collusion between the Trump camp and Moscow.
Putin said: "He didn't find any evidence of us colluding with Trump in the past, but said there was a risk we might do so in the future."
He added: "It would be funny if it weren't so sad."
IMPEACHMENT THREAT
President Trump meanwhile faces a serious threat of impeachment over allegations he tried to enlist a foreign power's help to dig up dirt on his rivals.
Specifically, he is accused of putting pressure on Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky to probe claims relating to Joe Biden and his son Hunter, who worked for a Ukrainian energy firm.
Elsewhere during Putin's appearance on Wednesday, the Russian leader spoke out to say he believes Trump did nothing wrong during the July phone-call with Zelensky.
'NOTHING COMPROMISING'
The Kremlin boss said there was "nothing compromising" in transcripts of the call.
"I see nothing compromising in the conversation between Trump and Zelensky," he said.
"President Trump turned to a colleague with a request to investigate possible corruption relating to members of the former administration.
"Any head of state would have had to do the same."
Speaking of Trump's critics, Putin added: "They have already been using any excuse to attack President Trump. Now it's Ukraine."
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