He also scoffed at US intelligence reports saying Russia had hacked into Democratic Party emails in a bid to influence the 2016 presidential election.

"Have you read those reports?" he shot back when Ms Kelly, who was moderating the discussion, raised the subject. "I have read those reports. And even in them there is nothing specific! There are only assumptions and conclusions on based on suppositions."

"If there was something specific, we'd have something to talk about. But where's the name and address?" he demanded, referring to the standard information about contacts he was expected to file in reports when he was a KGB officer.

Asked about the electronic "fingerprints," IP addresses that US intelligence agencies identified as belonging to Russian hackers, Mr Putin said: "What fingerprints? Hoof prints? Horn prints? Technology experts can invent anything and put the blame on anyone."

He proceeded to characterise the scandal about Mr Trump's alleged links to Russia and possible Kremlin interference in the US election as racist.

"It reminds me of antisemitism - the Jews are to blame for everything. You know, if a moron can't do anything for himself - the Jews are to blame. But we know what such sentiments lead to - it doesn't end in anything good," he said.