Donald Trump defends congratulatory call to Putin on election victory

Donald Trump has defended his decision to congratulate Vladimir Putin on being re-elected Russia's president, amid claims White House advisers specifically told him not to.

The US President claimed it would have been "wrong" for him to "excoriate" Mr Putin because "getting along" with Moscow "is a good thing, not a bad thing".

On Tuesday, it was revealed Mr Trump had congratulated Mr Putin on his victory in Russia's recent presidential election during a telephone call.

The White House later confirmed the US President had not mentioned the Salisbury nerve agent attack, which has been blamed on Moscow.

Republican senator John McCain led a backlash at Mr Trump's lauding of Mr Putin's success, declaring "an American president does not lead the free world by congratulating dictators on winning sham elections".

It was also reported the US President ignored specific warnings from his national security advisers ahead of the telephone call.

A section in Mr Trump's briefing materials included a message in all-capital letters stating "DO NOT CONGRATULATE", according to the Washington Post.

The newspaper also claimed the US President had been told to condemn the poisoning of former Russian spy Sergei Skripal in Salisbury.

But, writing on Twitter on Wednesday, Mr Trump defended himself from criticism of his call with Mr Putin, as he cited his predecessors' relations with Moscow.

:: Salisbury spy poisoning case is 'just the first step' for Vladimir Putin

He posted: "I called President Putin of Russia to congratulate him on his election victory (in past, Obama called him also).

"The Fake News Media is crazed because they wanted me to excoriate him. They are wrong! Getting along with Russia (and others) is a good thing, not a bad thing......."

He added: ".....They can help solve problems with North Korea, Syria, Ukraine, ISIS, Iran and even the coming Arms Race.

"Bush tried to get along, but didn't have the "smarts." Obama and Clinton tried, but didn't have the energy or chemistry (remember RESET). PEACE THROUGH STRENGTH!"

Mr Trump is facing an investigation by Special Counsel Robert Mueller into potential links between his presidential election campaign and Russia.

Earlier on Wednesday, the White House revealed Mr Trump had shared a telephone call with French President Emmanuel Macron, in which the two leaders "reiterated their solidarity with the United Kingdom in the wake of Russia's use of chemical weapons against private citizens on British soil and agreed on the need to take action to hold Russia accountable".

European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker has also been attacked for his own "nauseating" congratulations to Mr Putin .