Putin keeps cool on US expulsions
President refuses to ‘create problems for US diplomats’
Vladimir Putin yesterday said that Russia would not expel American diplomats after the United States kicked out 35 Russian embassy and consulate staff in retaliation for the hacking of US political groups during the presidential election. The move appears designed to sow confusion ahead of Donald Trump’s inauguration.
Analysts had predicted a bout of tit-for-tat expulsions in a return to Cold War diplomacy. But Mr Putin’s announcement will pile pressure on Mr Trump to risk further splits in his Republican party by reversing Barack Obama’s expulsions. Mr Putin described the US sanctions as a “provocation aimed to further undermine Russian-American relations” in a statement on the Kremlin website.
“The Russian diplomats returning home will spend the New Year holidays with their relatives and dear ones,” he said. “At home we will not create problems for US diplomats. We will not expel anybody.” For good measure, Mr Putin invited the children of American diplomats to a party at the Kremlin.
The diplomatic manoeuvring began on Thursday when the US said it was expelling 35 Russian diplomats and their families.
Officially they were given 72 hours to leave as Washington responded to Russian harassment of US diplomats.
But the US also closed Russian recreational compounds in New York and Mary land that officials said were being used for spying, and imposed sanctions on nine entities and individuals including the GRU and FSB intelligence agencies, leaving no doubt that the real reason was allegations of cyber attacks.
For his part, president Obama said the sanctions were just the beginning of the US retaliation.
“These actions are not the sum total of our response to Russia’s aggressive activities. We will continue to take a variety of actions at a time and place of our choosing, some of which will not be publicised,” he said. The moves mark a new low in relations after years of worsening ties and a steady series of claims that Russian cyber spies were targeting the US.
In the past month, senior US officials said the highest levels of the Russian government – including possibly Mr Putin himself – ordered cyberattacks on the Democratic Party and Hillary Clinton’s election campaign.
Emails stolen from her campaign manager’s account and from the Democratic National Committee were released by the WikiLeaks website Mr Obama’s steps are reminiscent of similar moves during the Cold War when expulsions were routinely used as a tool of aggression and were mirrored with immediate reprisals.
Analysts said the sanctions would intensify pressure on the Putin regime, which is already facing penalties for annexing Crimea, highlight Russia’s use of cyber warfare and paint Donald Trump into a corner at a time when the Kremlin was hoping a new outlook in Washington would ease international opposition.
Within 24 hours, Russian foreign minister Sergey Lavrov said he had asked for 31 staff at the US embassy in Moscow and four diplomats from the US consulate in St Petersburg to be declared persona non grata.
But soon after, Mr Putin sig- nalled the sudden change of tack in what appeared to be a carefully choreographed manoeuvre to draw a line under Mr Obama’s administration and prepare for president Trump.
The ground had already been prepared by several officials who heaped abuse on the Obama administration, accusing them of sabotaging ties.
As the world waited for a formal Russian response, the Rus- sian embassy in London took to Twitter to ridicule Mr Obama, posting a picture of a duck with the caption “lame”.
“President Obama expels 35 diplomats in Cold War deja vu. As everybody, incl (American) people, will be glad to see the last of this hapless Adm,” it said. The next move may well be up to Mr Trump as Washington prepares for the inauguration of a president-elect who has po- sitioned himself as a friend to Moscow. Mr Trump faces a dilemma. He is at odds with many senior Republicans who want a tougher stance against what they view as Russian aggression. Mr Trump will have to decide whether to reverse the sanctions and expulsions, risking further splits within his party after he is sworn in on January 20.
US senators John McCain and Lindsey Graham, who are hawkish on Russia, said they would push for tougher measures.
“The retaliatory measures announced by the Obama administration today are long overdue. But ultimately, they are a small price for Russia to pay for its brazen attack on American democracy. We intend to lead the effort in the new congress to impose stronger sanctions on Russia,” they said in a joint statement.
Mr Trump has repeatedly dismissed allegations that Russia intervened in the election on his behalf.
“It’s time for our country to move on to bigger and better things,” he said after the sanctions were announced.
“Nevertheless, in the interest of our country and its great people, I will meet with leaders of the intelligence community next week in order to be updated on the facts of this situation.”
Michael McFaul, who served as US ambassador to Moscow from 2012 to 2014, said Mr Trump would be reluctant to take any action that would further raise questions about foreign support he received during the election. “Mr Trump and his advisers need to take seriously this analysis so we don’t have the same kind of irregularities in the next presidential election,” he said.