US hits Russia but Putin looks to Don

Obama expels 35 Russian agents, slaps sanctions

Washington/Moscow, Dec 30: President Barack Obama on Friday sanctioned Russia and expelled 35 of its agents over alleged Russian hacking during the US presidential polls, but his counterpart Vladimir Putin surprisingly refused to retaliate, saying he will watch the moves of President-elect Donald Trump.

“All Americans should be alarmed by Russia’s actions,” Mr Obama said in a statement as he ordered a number of actions in response to the Russia’s alleged aggressive harassment of US officials and cyber operations targeting the US election.

“These actions follow repeated private and public warnings that we have issued to the Russian government, and are a necessary and appropriate response to efforts to harm US interests in violation of established international norms of behaviour,” he said.

The executive order issued by Mr Obama provided additional authority for responding to certain cyber activity that seeks to interfere with or undermine US election processes and institutions, or those of its allies or partners.

Mr Obama said the US and its allies around the world must work together to oppose Russia’s efforts to undermine established international norms of behaviour, and interfere with democratic governance.

Meanwhile in Moscow, Mr Putin in response to Mr Obama’s sanctions said Russia “will not create problems for American diplomats. We will not expel anyone”. “According to international practice, Russia has all the grounds for a comparable response,” Mr Putin said shortly after Russian Foreign Ministry sought his approval for a tit-for-tat move.

“Reserving the right to retaliatory measures, we... will be planning our next steps in restoring US-Russian relations based on the policies pursued by the administration of president Donald Trump,” the said.

Mr Putin’s move was a clear sign that Moscow is pinning its hopes on Mr Trump to help rebuild ties — which have plunged to their lowest point since the Cold War — when he takes office next month. — Agencies