US Senator John McCain slammed President Barack Obama over Russia, saying that it was Saudi Arabia which troubled the Russian economy not sanctions imposed by Obama against Moscow.

US Senator John McCain slammed President Barack Obama over Russia, saying that it was Saudi Arabia which troubled the Russian economy not sanctions imposed by Obama against Moscow.

He (literally) laughed off the notion that Obama's actions are responsible for crippling the Russian economy.

"We should be thanking the Saudis who have allowed the value of a barrel of oil to go to the point where it's affecting dramatically Vladimir Putin's economy," McCain said.

"It has nothing to do with any action taken by the President of the United States."

McCain added that he believes American sanctions, which have been the lynchpin of Obama's strategy in confronting Russia, have had little effect.

In his interview with CNN's Candy Crowley that aired Sunday, Obama countered critics like McCain who have said Obama has been outmaneuvered by Putin and pointed to the Russian economic collapse as evidence.

"Right now he's presiding over the collapse of his currency, a major financial crisis and a huge economic contraction, " Obama said.

"That doesn't sound like somebody who has rolled me or the United States of America."