As Russian media outlets are being subjected to pressure by US authorities on the pretext of their alleged involvement in the 2016 presidential election, the Russian president has commented on their work during the final plenary session of the Valdai International Discussion Club.

"They [RT and Sputnik] work brilliantly, really talented people. Sometimes I am even surprised by their courage and ability to present information so vividly, to do it so precisely and fearlessly. I simply take my hat off. This must be the key to the success of RT and Sputnik’s activities," Vladimir Putin noted.

The "entire world knows" that US and UK media outlets "constantly influence the internal political processes in almost every country," Putin noted.

The US Department of Justice has ordered a contractor of RT America to register under the Foreign Agents Registration Act. If the company fails to comply with it, its property will be arrested. In September, three US lawmakers called for an investigation into Radio Sputnik’s alleged role in the 2016 vote despite the fact that the station went on air in the US in July 2017.

Putin said that Moscow will "give a mirror-like response" if the US takes "actual steps restricting activities of our mass media."

In December 2016, the EU Parliament passed a resolution equating the two Russia media outlets to Daesh propaganda. At the time, the Russian president praised the work of both Sputnik and RT.