Russia says Clinton's victory could have sparked world war 3

The Russian premier yesterday spoke of his hopes that tensions can be set aside.

His aide Sergei Glazyev went further, describing Clinton as a symbol of war.

He told reporters, Lenta reports: 'Americans had two choices: World War Three or multilateral peace. 

'Clinton was a symbol of war, and Trump has a chance to change this course.'

Fellow Putin aide Vyacheslav Volodin, said that the end of the Obama years will signal 'an end to the problems it caused between the Kremlin and Washington'.

Among these were sanctions imposed by the US and the EU after Russia's annexation of Crimea in 2014.

Volodin said: 'Sanctions are the tool used by the weak.'

And he added: 'With sanctions you can’t have mutual respect.'

In a speech in the Kremlin yesterday, Putin stated: 'We have heard the pre-election statements by then-candidate (Trump), which were directed at rebuilding relations between Russia and the US.

'We understand that this will not be an easy path considering the unfortunate degradation of relations.

'But Russia is ready and wants to restore full-fledged relations with the US.'

Relations between Russia and the Obama regime were frosty, and news of Trump's election was met with cheer in Moscow

Russia has been subject to US and EU sanctions since its annexation of Crimea in 2014

The Russian President, who had a frosty relationship with President Obama and Hillary Clinton, continued: 'We are ready to do our part and do everything to return (US-Russian) relations to the trajectory of development.

'This would be in the interest of Russian and American people and would positively affect the general climate in international relations, considering the special responsibility of Russia and the US for ensuring global stability and security.'

Russian State Duma Speaker Vyacheslav Volodin voiced hopes for more constructive US-Russian dialogue when the newly-elected president takes office.

He said: 'Current Russian-US relations cannot be called friendly. One would like to hope that a more constructive dialog between the two countries will be possible when the new president takes office.'

The US imposed sanctions against Russia after the annexation of Crimea in 2014 - a move branded 'weak' by the Kremlin