Russian President Vladimir Putin said Friday that he "couldn't care less" if other Muscovites interfered in the 2016 election, since those indicted last month by special counsel Robert Mueller have no ties to the Kremlin.
"So what if they're Russians?" Putin asked NBC News' Megyn Kelly of the Mueller charges against 13 Russians and three Kremlin companies. "There are 146 million Russians.
"So what? ... I don't care," Putin said in the interview. "I couldn't care less.
"They do not represent the interests of the Russian state."
The Mueller charges, announced Feb. 16, alleged that the Russians created fake social media postings, posed online as American political activists and fraudulently purchased advertisements — all seeking to meddle in the presidential race.
Putin, who faces re-election this year, again denied charges by U.S. intelligence agencies that he ordered the interference.
"Why have you decided the Russian authorities, myself included, gave anybody permission to do this?" he asked Kelly.
"Could anyone really believe that Russia, thousands of miles away, influenced the outcome of the election?
"Doesn't that sound ridiculous even to you?
"It's not our goal to interfere," Putin added. "We do not see what goal we would accomplish by interfering.
"There's no goal."
Putin said Moscow could not prosecute anyone for the alleged meddling because no evidence has been presented showing that Russian law has been violated.
"We in Russia cannot prosecute anyone as long as they have not violated Russian law," he told Kelly. "At least send us a piece of paper. ... Give us a document.
"Give us an official request," he added. "And we'll take a look at it."
Putin also slammed the crippling sanctions the U.S. has imposed on Moscow in light of the activity.
"Are we the ones who imposed sanctions on the United States?" he asked. "The U.S. imposed sanctions on us."
Trump said Tuesday that Russia and probably other countries and individuals meddled in the 2016 presidential election — not affecting the outcome, though — and that "we won't allow that to happen" in this year's midterm contests.
He has also declined to attack Putin directly on the issue, instead hinting that he was giving the Kremlin leader the benefit of the doubt, according to NBC.
Putin told Kelly that Trump was "a businessman with vast experience" and "a quick study," though he's new to politics.
"He understands that if it is necessary to establish a cooperative relationship with someone, then you have to treat your current or potential partner with respect," he said.
"Engaging in mutual accusations and insults, this is a road to nowhere."
Putin told Kelly that he does not read Trump's tweets and avoids Twitter himself.
"I have other ways of expressing my point of view or implementing a decision," the Kremlin leader said. "Donald is a more modern individual."