President Vladimir Putin today insisted that the Russian state has never engaged in hacking and scoffed at allegations that hackers could influence the outcome of elections in the United States or Europe. But he admitted the possibility that some individual hackers could have mounted some attacks amid the current cold spell in Russia's relations with the West.<br/><br/>Speaking at a meeting with senior editors of leading international news agencies, Putin also alleged that some evidence pointing at Russian hackers' participation in attacks could have been rigged in an attempt to smear Russia.<br/><br/>US intelligence agencies have accused Russia of hacking into Democratic Party emails, helping President Donald Trump's election victory, and the Congressional and FBI investigations into the Trump campaign's ties with Russia have shattered Moscow's hopes for a detente with Washington.