Putin hopes ‘normalized’ ties with US

President Vladimir Putin has voiced hope for normalizing Russia-U.S. ties while speaking in a live call-in show with the nation on June 15.

He said Moscow and Washington could cooperate in efforts to prevent the proliferation of mass destruction weapons, including the North Korean nuclear and missile problem.

He said the two countries could also cooperate in dealing with global poverty and efforts to prevent climate change.

Putin also noted that Moscow hopes that the U.S. could play a “constructive role” in helping settle the Ukrainian crisis. The Russian president described the allegations of Russian meddling in the U.S. election as reflection of “exacerbating political infighting.”

He again denied meddling in the U.S. election.

President Putin said former FBI Director James Comey’s acknowledgement that he has given his account of conversations with President Donald Trump to a friend who leaked them to the media is “weird” and ironically offered him asylum in Russia. 

Putin compared Comey’s move to that of NSA contractor Edward Snowden, adding on a sarcastic note that Russia could grant Comey political asylum.