Russian media have been reacting to Trump's growing criticism of Putin, the most recent being on Tuesday when he accused the Russian leader of peddling "bulls***" over his intentions in Ukraine, after rejecting U.S. ceasefire proposals.

The Washington Post reported that Trump had spoken to Putin by phone last November - after he won the presidential election but before he returned to the White House - and warned him not to escalate in Ukraine. The Kremlin dismissed reports of the phone call as "pure fiction."

The Kremlin has broken its silence on the US President's alleged threat to Moscow ahead of the Ukraine invasion.