After a few perfunctory opening questions, Fox News’ Chris Wallace got down to business.

“I have here the indictment that was presented on Friday from the special counsel, Robert Mueller,” Wallace said — holding up the indictment of 12 Russian intelligence officials for interfering in the 2016 election.

Russian President Vladimir Putin smiled — clearly none too pleased.

“May I give this to you to look at, sir?” Wallace said to Putin.

The Russian president didn’t take the document.

“First of all, Russia, as a state, has never interfered with the internal affairs of the United States, let alone its elections,” Putin said.

Wallace interjected.

“But sir, this is the indictment,” the Fox News anchor said. “It shows — I have 12 names here. It talks about specific units of the GRU — Russian military intelligence. Is the GRU not part of the Russian state?”

“Just have a little bit of patience,” Putin said. “Then you will get a full answer to your question.”

But the Russian president continued to dodge.

“Interference with the domestic affairs of the United States — do you really believe that someone acting from the Russian territory could have influenced the United States and influenced the choice of millions of Americans?” Putin said.

Wallace again tried to cut off the rote denials and pin down the Russian president for an answer to his question. Putin didn’t respond kindly.

“This is utterly ridiculous,” Putin said.

Watch the tense skirmish above, via Fox News.

[featured image via screengrab]

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