Putin spoke in an interview with NBC about non-interference in the US elections and answered a question about Navalny without mentioning his name

Russian President Vladimir Putin gave a detailed interview to NBC journalist Megyn Kelly. The Russian president, in particular, spoke about the fact that Russia did not interfere in the US presidential election.

“Firstly, we have our own principles, which are that we do not allow interference in our internal affairs and do not interfere in others. <…> And secondly, we don’t have that many tools,” the Russian president said.

Putin said he knew Yevgeny Prigozhin, who is suspected of creating a "troll factory" that was allegedly used to interfere in US elections, but was not on friendly terms with him.

The interview also touched upon the topic of new Russian weapons, which the President of the Russian Federation presented during his message to the Federal Assembly. Putin once again reproached the US for its unilateral withdrawal from the ABM Treaty and said that there was no talk of a new Cold War.

Putin was also asked about the possibility of cooperation with Alexei Navalny and the possibility of pardoning the opposition politician. Putin replied, without mentioning Navalny's name, that "certain political forces" "have no program for the development of the country."

“Only focusing your attention on problems is not just not enough, but it is even dangerous, because it can lead to certain destruction, and we need creation,” Putin said.

• Megyn Kelly interviewed Vladimir Putin on March 1 and 2 in Moscow and Kaliningrad, respectively.
• The interview with Putin aired on NBC on the evening of March 9 local time.