Back in Russia, envoy denies meddling

MOSCOW — The former Russian ambassador to the United States on Saturday strongly denied the accusations of meddling in the U.S. presidential election.

Sergey Kislyak, who has just returned from Washington, said on Russian state Rossiya 24 television that he was merely doing his job as a diplomat when he met with members of President Donald Trump’s team. He said he also had met with representatives of Hillary Clinton’s campaign, but didn’t give any names.

Kislyak described the U.S. accusations against him as absurd and “shameful” for the U.S., adding that the official acknowledgment that his phone conversations were bugged was “unhealthy.”

“Any diplomat, Russian or not, works to better understand the policy of a country he’s posted to, figure out what the new administration’s course is and understand where cooperation is possible,” Kislyak said.

Kislyak’s contacts with members of Trump’s team have been part of congressional and FBI investigations into possible collusion between Trump’s campaign team and Russia. Moscow has denied any interference in the U.S. election.