Minutes after Mr Donald Trump was declared winner of the US presidential election, Russia’s president, Vladimir Putin, sent a telegram to Mr Trump congratulating him.

Mr Trump had won the United States presidential election with over 270 votes, with Mrs Hillary Clinton grabbing only 218 votes.

Mr Trump had described the process as a tough one.

In the message from Mr Putin, the Russian leader expressed confidence that Washington and Moscow would deepen relations.

The telegram read: “Mr Putin expressed confidence that building a constructive dialogue between Moscow and Washington, based on the principles of mutual respect and real consideration for each other’s positions, would be in the interest of the people of both countries and the whole world”.

In a televised address apparently held after the telegram was sent, Mr Putin said: We understand that the road to that will be difficult taking into consideration the degradation of relations between Russia and America.

“Russia is ready and wants to restore the full-fledged relations with the United States”.

He also insisted that the broken relations between both countries was not Russia’s making.

During the last debate between Mr Trump and Mrs Clinton, issues were raised by Mr Trump’s opponent, on the relationship between Mr Putin and the president-elect, saying that Mr Trump would be Putin’s puppet.

But Mr Trump had denied having any relationship with Mr Putin, saying he does not know him.