Putin throws a bash after US sanctions

moscow — President Vladimir Putin said Moscow would not expel anyone in response to Washington’s decision to throw out 35 suspected Russian spies and sanction intelligence agencies it believes were involved in computer hacking in the 2016 presidential election.

Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov earlier proposed expelling 35 US diplomats after outgoing US President Barack Obama ordered the expulsions and sanctions on Thursday.

But Putin said he would wait for the actions of President-elect Donald Trump, who will take office on Jan. 20, before deciding on any further steps in relations with the United States. “We will not expel anyone,” Putin said in a statement on Friday. “While keeping the right for retaliatory measures, we will not descend to the level of ‘kitchen’, irresponsible diplomacy.”

In withering remarks, Putin even invited US diplomats and their families to a party in the Kremlin.

It was not clear whether Trump, who has repeatedly praised Putin and nominated people seen as friendly towards Moscow to senior administration posts, would seek to roll back the measures which mark a new post-Cold War low in US-Russian ties. —

all americans should be alarmed by russia’s actions. Such activities (hacking and interference) have consequences

moscow — President Vladimir Putin castigated the United States on Friday for bringing sanctions and expelling Russian diplomats amid allegations of Russian meddling in the American presidential election, but said no US diplomats will be ousted in reprisal for Washington’s moves in the wake of hacking attacks.

In a burgeoning controversy surrounding complaints from the Obama administration about a cyber assault against America’s political system, the White House on Thursday unleashed a string of sanctions and coupled them with an order that 35 Russians be expelled.

In a statement on Friday on the Kremlin’s web site, Putin referred to the sanctions as a “provocation aimed to further undermine Russian-American relations.” But he also said that Moscow would not be ousting American diplomats.

“The Russian diplomats returning home will spend the New Year Holidays with their relatives and dear ones,” Putin said. “At home. We will not create problems for US diplomats. We will not expel anybody.” The diplomatic confrontation between Washington and Moscow, which had been festering even before the November 8 presidential election elevated Donald Trump to the presidency, puts pressure on the billionaire businessman not to let Russia off the hook after he takes office on January 20.

Russia’s government had threatened retaliation, and it continues to deny US accusations that it hacked and stole emails to try to help Trump win.

Trump said the US should move on, but in a sign he was no longer totally brushing off the allegations, he plans to meet with US intelligence leaders next week to learn more.

Putin’s statement came hours after Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov suggested a tit-for-tat expulsion in televised remarks. He said early on Friday that Russia’s foreign ministry and other agencies had suggested that Putin order expulsion of 31 employees of the US Embassy in Moscow and four diplomats from the US Consulate in St. Petersburg. Another suggestion is to bar American diplomats from using their summer retreat on the outskirts of Moscow and a warehouse south of Moscow.

But in the web site remarks, Putin said, Russia would not prevent the families and children (of diplomats) from using the customary rest and leisure facilities and sites during the New Year holidays. “Moreover, I am inviting all children of US diplomats accredited in Russia to the New Year and Christmas parties in the Kremlin,” he said.

President Barack Obama on Thursday ordered sanctions against the GRU and FSB, leading Russian intelligence agencies the US claimed were involved. In an elaborately coordinated response by at least five federal agencies, the Obama administration also sought to expose Russia’s cyber tactics with a detailed technical report and hinted it might still launch a covert counterattack. —

Barack Obama, US president We evaluate the new unfriendly steps by the outgoing uS administration as a provocation aimed at further undermining russian-american relations

Vladimir Putin, Russian president