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US special counsel’s probe reveals no evidence of Trump-Kremlin collusion Lavrov

Lavrov cited this situation as an example "of an absurdity taking place" in the United States

MOSCOW, January 16. /TASS/. US Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s investigation into the alleged collusion between US President Donald Trump and the Russian authorities has not revealed any facts confirming this version, Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said at his annual news conference on Wednesday.

"Counsel Mueller is working. He has questioned dozens, if not hundreds, of people: no leaks that would confirm the accusations of the collusion between US President Trump and the Russian Federation have been presented; no facts have been presented and there are no leaks, which is quite and quite strange for the American system: leaks normally occur instantly," the Russian foreign minister said.

The leaks that were discussed were linked only with the involvement of the Ukrainian side in the US elections, Russia’s top diplomat said.

Lavrov cited this situation as an example "of an absurdity taking place" in the United States. He also recalled the case of former US national security adviser Michael Flynn whom Washington was bringing to criminal liability.

According to Lavrov, Mueller accuses Flynn of performing actions that actually meet the US interests.

In particular, this relates to an attempt to ease the tension in the relations with Russia, when Flynn tried to persuade Moscow not to respond to new US sanctions. Also, the former US national security adviser tried to influence Russia’s position on the UN resolution on Israel.

"He urged the Russian side actually to safeguard the position, which the United States had promoted for decades in the UN," Lavrov said.

"The absurdity of the situation is obvious for me," the Russian foreign minister said.