President Putin says Democrats lost U.S. election on their own, asserts desire for positive relations with Trump

At annual year-end news conference, Putin says he hopes to have a constructive relationship with U.S. President-elect Donald Trump.

Brushing off accusations that Russia interfered in U.S. elections, Russian President Vladimir Putin said Friday that the Obama administration and the Democratic Party were attempting to blame their electoral failure on “external factors.

Crimea Lates: Russia's list of sanctions against US officials

Russia on Thursday announced it was introducing its own sanctions against US officials, minutes after US President Barack Obama announced new sanctions against Russian officials over the Ukraine-Crimea crisis.

“There should be no doubt: each hostile attack will be met in an adequate manner,” the Russian foreign ministry said, saying it was targeting nine Obama aides and senators.

Moscow’s blacklist includes Obama aides Caroline Atkinson, Daniel Pfeiffer and Benjamin Rhodes and senators Mary Landrieu, John McCain and Daniel Coats.