Donald Trump's US ambassador to UN says there's 'no doubt' Russia meddled in the election

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There is “no question” that Russia interfered in the presidential election, according to the US ambassador to UN, who became the latest Trump appointed official to break ranks and suggest Kremlin interference.

Nikki Haley insisted the US President was not stopping her from "beating up on Russia" and she unequivocal about Moscow's involvement in the leadership race.

“Well, certainly, I think Russia was involved in the election,” she told ABC News' Martha Raddatz. “There's no question about that. And I think when they finish with all of this process, yes, they need to address Russia, they need to act, and they need to make sure they're loud about it.

“We don't want any country involved in our elections ever.”

Her stance appeared in stark contrast to her leaders, as Donald Trump has vehemently denied reports that he or members of his team have had any connections to Moscow.

He eventually conceded that Russian operatives may have been behind of the hack of Democratic National Committee’s (DNC) emails which were leaked just before their party conference last summer, but he has insisted that it did not affect the outcome of the election.

He has nonetheless continued his vitriolic attacks on media organisations who report on the Russian allegations.

Over the weekend, he tweeted: "It is the same Fake News Media that said there is 'no path to victory for Trump' that is now pushing the phony Russia story. A total scam! The real story turns out to be SURVEILLANCE and LEAKING! Find the leakers."

But in December, both the CIA and the FBI concluded that Russia had tried to interfere in the election.

At a congressional hearing last month, FBI Director James Comey confirmed the intelligence service was currently investigating whether the Kremlin coordinated with Mr Trump's team during the campaign.

General Michael Flynn, Mr Trump’s first choice to be national security adviser, was also forced to resign after just three weeks in the job when it was revealed he had failed to disclose a meeting he had had with Russian officials during the campaign.

Ms Hayley who was appointed ambassador by Mr Trump in January, said there was no contradiction between her tough attitude and his seemingly soft stance on Russia.

The former South Carolina governor, said he “has not once” told her to “stop beating up on Russia” over issues like its annexation of Crimea and continued actions in Ukraine and Syria.

"There's no love or anything going on with Russia right now," Ms Haley said. "They get that we're getting our strength back, that we're getting our voice back and that we're starting to lead again, and, honestly, at the United Nations, that's the No 1 comment I get is that they're just so happy to see the United States lead again."