Moscow (CNN) Russian President Vladimir Putin has described allegations that his country meddled in the 2016 US election as "fictional, illusory, provocations and lies." Asked directly on Thursday whether Russia interfered in the election, Putin said: "Read my lips: No." Putin's comments are the President's most emphatic denial of the accusations yet, and are the first he has directly made since US President Donald Trump took office in January. Russian officials and spokespeople for Putin, however, have brushed off the claims several times as a political "witch hunt." The denial comes as intelligence committees from both the House and Senate in the US investigate the alleged interference in the US election, including possible ties between Russian officials and members of Trump's campaign team.Putin downplays meeting between Kushner and Russian bankerHe warns of US-Russian relations reaching 'point of absurdity'
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said in January that the charges against _ "were not backed by anything" and were "made on a very amateur, emotional level."