Putin: Trump is doing a good job, look at the markets

Russian President Vladimir Putin said today that the United States is in the grip of an artificial espionage mania created by the opponents of US President Donald Trump, adding that the pounded relations between the US and Russia will improve.

"I am not the one who will evaluate the work of the President (Donald Trump). This must be done by the voters, the American people. We see objectively that there have been some significant achievements, even in the short time it has been working. "Look at how the markets have developed."

Moscow maintains that it was not involved in the US presidential election, and expresses the view that relations between the two countries have improved. At the same time, Congress is investigating allegations that there were contacts between Donald Trump and Russian officials. 

Putin has denied the allegations in a statement issued Friday stating "Similar, baseless allegations concerning Russia's foreign policy have been made more than once. He also denied allegations that the Russian ambassador to the United States had acted wrongly when he had contacts with Trump campaign officials, saying it was "international practice" for diplomats to try to contact all candidates in an election process.
 
Putin also said that Washington and Moscow have many common threats, and referred to the Middle East, North Korea, international terrorism, environmental problems, and the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction.

"We will normalize our relations and develop them and overcome common threats."

However, he criticized US policy towards North Korea, warning that a US attack would have disastrous consequences.
 
At the press conference, Putin also referred to the presidential elections in Russia that will be held in March. Putin, 65, has been in power, either as president or prime minister, since late 1999. He says he intends to run as an independent candidate with the support of more than one party, which may mean the former KGB officer wants to step up. his image as the "father of the nation" rather than as a party politician.
 
Putin prioritized the development of a high-tech economy, improved infrastructure, health, education, productivity, and increased real incomes.