US president-elect Donald Trump says with the many global issues confronting it, the US doesn't need testy ties with Russia adding "only 'stupid' people or fools" would dismiss closer ties.

In a series of tweets, Trump described a relationship with Russia as a good thing, and says the two nations will have a much better relationship under his leadership than under Barack Obama.

After another briefing about alleged interference by the Russians in the November election result, Trump again questioned the assessment by American intelligence agencies that explicitly tied Russian President Vladimir Putin to election meddling.

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