The US Senate has voted unanimously to oppose Russian President Vladimir Putin’s offer to interrogate of American officials.

Chief among them was former US Ambassador to Moscow Michael McFaul, who had served under Barack Obama and tweeted after the vote: “98-0. Bipartisanship is not dead yet in the US Senate. Thank you all for your support”.

During a joint press conference with Mr Trump after the pair’s summit in Helsinki, Finland, Mr Putin said he would allow special counsel Robert Mueller’s team to travel to Russia and attend the questioning 12 Russians indicted for interfering in the 2016 US election if Mr Trump agreed to allow the Kremlin to question Americans “who have something to do with illegal actions in the territory of Russia.”

Mr Mueller and his FBI team are continuing to investigate Russian interference in the 2016 US election as well as alleged collusion between members of Mr Trump’s campaign team and Russian officials.

White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders said the president was discussing the possibility of Russian investigators being allowed to come into the US and question former diplomats, like Mr McFaul and Bill Browder, an American-born and UK financier.

Mr Browder’s company Hermitage Capital Management once held a large portfolio of investments in Russia, was blocked from entering the country in 2005. He said it was because he exposed corruption and his lawyer was killed as a result.

Trump and Putin's Helsinki summit: What you need to know

Mr Browder recently lobbied for US sanctions against Russia for allegedly violating human rights law.

"One of the most stunning things about the summit was the president's openness to a request by President Putin to question former United States Ambassador to Moscow Michael McFaul and other Americans," said Democratic Senator Chuck Schumer who along with Senators Bob Menendez and Brian Schatz, introduced the resolution.

Trump in Helsinki: Putin meeting and protests Show all 16 1 /16 Trump in Helsinki: Putin meeting and protests Trump in Helsinki: Putin meeting and protests President Trump meets with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Helsinki Reuters Trump in Helsinki: Putin meeting and protests An advert from Finnish newspaper Helsingin Sanomat is on display in Helsinki Reuters Trump in Helsinki: Putin meeting and protests President Trump in a meeting with Finnish President Sauli Niinisto AFP/Getty Trump in Helsinki: Putin meeting and protests President Trump meets with Finnish President Sauli Niinisto in Helsinki EPA Trump in Helsinki: Putin meeting and protests President Trump talks with Finnish President Sauli Niinisto in Mantyniemi, the official residence of the Finnish President EPA Trump in Helsinki: Putin meeting and protests US, Finnish and Russian flags fly in front of the Presidential Palace in Helsinki EPA Trump in Helsinki: Putin meeting and protests A protester wears a mask featuring a portrait of Russian President Vladimir Putin during the so-called "Helsinki against Trump and Putin" demonstration on July 16, 2018, in the Finnish capital Helsinki. The US and Russian leaders opened an historic summit in Helsinki on Monday, with Donald Trump promising an "extraordinary relationship" and Vladimir Putin saying it was high time to thrash out disputes around the world. / AFP PHOTO / Jonathan NACKSTRANDJONATHAN NACKSTRAND/AFP/Getty Images JONATHAN NACKSTRAND AFP/Getty Trump in Helsinki: Putin meeting and protests Vladimir Putin gifts a football to President Trump at the press conference that followed their meeting AP Trump in Helsinki: Putin meeting and protests Trump supporters hold banners during a demonstration in Helsinki AFP/Getty Trump in Helsinki: Putin meeting and protests People protest for women's reproductive rights in Helsinki's Senate Square Reuters Trump in Helsinki: Putin meeting and protests A crowd watches the motorcade transporting President Trump through Helsinki AFP/Getty Trump in Helsinki: Putin meeting and protests Russian President Putin drives through Helsinki on his way to meet with President Trump EPA Trump in Helsinki: Putin meeting and protests A man in the audience of the joint press conference holds up a sign sign that reads "NUCLEAR WEAPON BAN TREATY". REUTERS Trump in Helsinki: Putin meeting and protests A man is removed from the joint press conference in Helsinki. Security removed the man after he pulled out a sign that read "NUCLEAR WEAPON BAN TREATY". REUTERS Trump in Helsinki: Putin meeting and protests President Trump and Russia's President Putin sit for a working lunch in Finland's Presidential Palace AFP/Getty Trump in Helsinki: Putin meeting and protests President Trump meets with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Helsinki Reuters

However, just before the vote took place, Ms Sanders walked back the comment, saying, though the suggestion was made “in sincerity by President Putin...President Trump disagrees with it.”

"Hopefully President Putin will have the 12 identified Russians come to the United States to prove their innocence or guilt,” Ms Sanders said.

The resolution stated that no political appointee, ambassador, diplomat, law enforcement officer, civil servant, or member of the US military should be open to interrogation by Moscow.

Mr Schumer called on the president to publicly “say once and for all not through his spokespeople that the lopsided disgraceful trade he called an 'incredible offer' is now off the table.”