Putin: "We are following closely what is happening in the United States"

Russian President Vladimir Putin said Russia is following closely what is happening in the United States, speaking ahead of his departure from the Bishkek airport in Kyrgyzstan.

"I have already spoken many times about supporting [candidates], and have nothing new to say… The only thing that I would like to say is that we would support any person in any country willing to build neighborly and partnership relations with us," Sputnik quoted him as saying.

"And of course, we are following closely what is happening in the United States, and we sympathize with anyone who is publicly calling for relations with Russia on an equal footing and sees that it is important both for their country and for the international community on the whole," Putin added.