Paul Ryan has rebuked Donald Trump’s cosy relations with Vladimir Putin, vowing to hold Russia accountable for its global attacks on Democratic elections.

The House speaker held a press conference on Tuesday morning in which he vowed the US Congress will “make sure” Russia "doesn’t get away with it again," while discussing the Kremlin’s alleged meddling in the 2016 US presidential election. “Let’s be clear, Russia meddled in our election,” he said.

The Wisconsin Republican also suggested the US needs to “equip” other countries with resources to prevent the Kremlin’s attacks on their own election processes.

The press conference arrived a day after the president’s controversial summit with Mr Putin in Helsinki, Finland, in which he declined to side with the US intelligence community and declare Russia responsible for hacks on the Democratic National Committee and Hillary Clinton’s presidential campaign.

Mr Ryan, who often remains silent on the president’s daily controversies, released a statement on Monday night criticising Mr Trump’s press conference with the Russian president.

“There is no question that Russia interfered in our election and continues attempts to undermine democracy here and around the world,” he said. ”The president must appreciate that Russia is not our ally. There is no moral equivalence between the United States and Russia, which remains hostile to our most basic values and ideals. The United States must be focused on holding Russia accountable and putting an end to its vile attacks on democracy.”

On Tuesday, the House speaker said he would be “more than happy” to review additional sanctions Congress may impose against Russia, after a federal investigation led by Special Counsel Robert Mueller brought an additional 12 indictments against Russian intelligence officers last week.

“Russia is a menacing government that does not share our interests and it does not share our values,” Mr Ryan said.

He joined a chorus of Democrats and Republicans alike who described the president’s conference with Mr Putin as “treasonous,” “embarrassing” and “un-American”.

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

"President Trump proved not only unable, but unwilling to stand up to Putin,” John McCain said in a statement.

“It is tempting to describe the press conference as a pathetic rout — as an illustration of the perils of under-preparation and inexperience. But these were not the errant tweets of a novice politician. These were the deliberate choices of a president who seems determined to realise his delusions of a warm relationship with Putin’s regime without any regard for the true nature of his rule, his violent disregard for the sovereignty of his neighbours, his complicity in the slaughter of the Syrian people, his violation of international treaties, and his assault on democratic institutions throughout the world.”