NEW YORK (JAN 12, 2017): President-elect Donald Trump has finally conceded that Russia was behind the hacking of Democratic institutions during the presidential election.

“I think it was Russia,” he said when asked about the poll hacking at a news conference at Trump Tower here on Wednesday. However, a few minutes later he said perhaps it was another country.

“But you know what, it could have been others also,” he said, hinting at US intelligence officials.

In his first news conference after winning the elections, Trump was asked about the reports that US intelligence chiefs had told the president-elect about Russia possessing damaging information on him.

Responding to the questions, Trump said he was untroubled by the intelligence reports stating that Russia preferred him over Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton and that President Vladimir Putin ordered the election meddling to benefit him.

“If Putin likes Donald Trump, guess what folks: That is called an asset, not a liability,” he said, adding that a strong relationship could allow the two nations to work together on difficult international issues.

However, the president-elect also came up with a message for Putin and said, “He shouldn’t be doing it. He won’t be doing it. Russia will have much greater respect for our country when I am leading it.”