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The Russian President slammed Barack Obama for blaming Donald Trump’s shock election victory on Russian influence, accusing the US leader of using Moscow as a “scapegoat” Mr Putin said: “I am to blame? “Are we responsible for everything? Are we the scapegoats? “Trump’s victory just signals that the current administration has systemic problems

GETTY Putin Slammed Obama's accusation that Russia influenced the US election

There is a gap in the perception of what is good and bad within the elites Vladimir Putin

“There is a gap in the perception of what is good and bad within the elites and the perceptions of the grassroots “The fact that 37 per cent of republicans support the Russian president? I’m not to be thanked for that. “It means the vast majority of the American population have the same perception of the international order.

“This could help us to build better relations between such powerful nations as Russia and the US. “This is a good foundation.”

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GETTY Putin hit out at the US president in his annual news conference

He went on to criticise Mr Obama for claiming former President Ronald Reagan would be “rolling in his grave” at the news so many Republicans backed the Russian leader. Mr Putin added: “I think Mr Reagan would not roll in his grave but rather rejoice that his party is winning across the board and be happy the new president has been elected. “And we knew he was going to win, nobody but us believed he was going to win.” It comes as new figures reveal a staggering 71 per cent of Americans believe Russia hacked the Democratic National Convention – despite Mr Obama and a host of top diplomats bleating that the former Soviet nation did bypass his party’s security systems.

GETTY e went on to criticise Mr Obama for claiming Ronald Reagan would be 'rolling in his grave'

GETTY Putin admitted he 'knew' Trump would win