SCAPEGOAT: Putin says US is creating enemies to distract from domestic crises
RUSSIAN President Vladimir Putin has again stoked fears of conflict with the West in a new video in which he discusses his concerns about the US election.
Vladimir Putin/Donald Trump/Hillary Clinton
In the clip – already viewed more than 1.3 million times – Mr Putin tells journalists Washington is trying to "to distract voters from the country's problems" by creating "an enemy and uniting the nation against them".
He then suggested US officials were trying to line up Iran or Russia as the potential foes.
The 64-year-old said he preferred Donald Trump to Hillary Clinton of the two US Presidential Election candidates.
Putin: Clinton's AGGRESSIVE stance to RUSSIA world threat
Russian President Vladimir Putin accused Hillary Clinton of aggression
Mr Putin said: "Mrs Clinton has chosen to take up a very aggressive stance against our country, against Russia.
"Mr Trump, on the other hand, calls for co-operation – at least when it comes to the international fight against terrorism.
"Naturally we welcome those who would like to co-operate with us."
Russian aircraft carrier the Admiral Kuznetsov sailed close to the Kent coast
It's not funny anymore. If somebody out there wants confrontation. This is not our choice but this means that there will be problems
He continued "And we consider it wrong, that we always have to be in conflict with one another, creating existential threats for each other and for the whole world.
"Would Mrs Clinton deliver on her threats and harsh rhetoric against Russia if she became President? Or will she correct her position against us?"
Mr Putin then issued a warning to US politicians, saying: "Jeopardising Russian-American relations in order to gain Brownie points internally – I consider this to be harmful and counter productive.
"It's not funny anymore. If somebody out there wants confrontation. This is not our choice but this means that there will be problems."
Russian has angered the West with its ruthless bombing of the Syrian city of Aleppo
Tensions between Russia and the West are running high over a series of issues including Moscow's brutal military campaign in Syria and Kremlin-backed cyber-attacks against US targets including Mrs Clinton’s Democratic Party.
And in the latest show of strength Mr Putin sent a small fleet of Russian warships through the English Channel on its way to Syria to join the onslaught against rebel forces there.