Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Thursday American politicians were whipping up hysteria about a mythical Russian threat in the US presidential campaign as a ploy to distract voters from their own failings. Putin said he found it hard to believe that anyone seriously thought Moscow was capable of influencing the November 8 election. "Hysteria has been whipped up in the United States about the influence of Russia over the US presidential election," said Putin. Does anyone really think that Russia could influence the American people's choice in any way? Putin also said certain forces in the West were trying to exaggerate the threat that Russia posed in order to secure higher military spending and talk up their own importance.

Source: The Star October 27, 2016 15:31 UTC