Russian politicians have responded to news Donald Trump’s National Security Advisor has resigned over communications with the country, accusing the President of “Russophobia”.

Michael Flynn resigned from the leading security role after it emerged he had communicated with Russia’s Washington ambassador in the weeks before President Trump’s inauguration, to discuss sanctions which had been imposed on the country under then President Obama. Under US laws, no private citizens, which Mr Flynn was at the time, may conduct diplomacy.

Following the conversation, Mr Flynn denied the discussions had taken place. He later conceded he may been mistaken and subsequently resigned.

Konstantin Kosachev, chairman of the foreign affairs committee in Russia’s upper parliamentary chamber, wrote on Facebook that Mr Flynn’s resignation was “not just paranoia but something even worse.

“Either Trump hasn’t found the necessary independence and he’s been driven into a corner… or Russophobia has permeated the new administration from top to bottom.”

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President Trump has been criticised for his ties to Russia throughout his time in office thus far and while an election candidate. After the election result, it emerged that Russian sources had hacked US sources with a view to altering the voters’ opinions in Mr Trump’s favour.

It has also been alleged that Russian intelligence has a salacious dossier on the President which is compromising and could be used for blackmail.