"They [RT and Sputnik] work brilliantly, really talented people. Sometimes I am even surprised by their courage and ability to present information so vividly, to do it so precisely and fearlessly. I simply take my hat off. This must be the key to the success of RT and Sputnik’s activities," Vladimir Putin noted.
The "entire world knows" that US and UK media outlets "constantly influence the internal political processes in almost every country," Putin noted.
Putin said that Moscow will "give a mirror-like response" if the US takes "actual steps restricting activities of our mass media."
In December 2016, the EU Parliament passed a resolution equating the two Russia media outlets to Daesh propaganda. At the time, the Russian president praised the work of both Sputnik and RT.