Having contacts with Russian ambassador or with Russian representatives in this or that field does not mean interference in Americans' affairs - domestic affairs.

We're all as bureaucrats, or people who are - who work for state, every year we present our declaration of our incomes and expenditures to our special organs who control and double-control the declaration.

You can't treat Russia like a guilty schoolboy who has to put a cross on a piece of paper to show he has done his homework. That kind of language is unacceptable.

All those fake news having nothing beneath and having no evidence, were nothing else but slander. And that's why we'll continue to suggest to everyone insisting that Russia was interfering in this or that way into domestic affairs of the United States, we will suggest them to read Mr. Putin's lips.

Of course Russia is, let's say element, of American election campaign, was on the agenda to some extent but the influence of that element could have hardly been critical.

You know what is ambassador's job? To have as many contacts in political establishment as possible. This is the job of Russian ambassador in Washington, of American ambassador to Moscow and of every ambassador in every country of the world.

It's not about preferring someone, it's about whose ideas are more close to you and whose ideas are more welcomed in Russian public opinion. Let's not forget about public opinion in our country. It's very influential and it's very powerful.