Journalists are seen outside the Russian Embassy to the United States in Washington D.C., the United States, on Dec. 29, 2016. The White House on Thursday announced sanctions against Russian entities and individuals over alleged hacking during the 2016 U.S. presidential election. In addition, the U.S. State Department on Thursday announced ejection of 35 Russian government officials from the United States. (Xinhua/Yin Bogu)
WASHINGTON, Dec. 30 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President-elect Donald Trump on Friday praised Russian President Vladimir Putin as "very smart" for holding off on retaliatory actions after Obama administration's new sanctions.
"Great move on delay (by V. Putin) - I always knew he was very smart!" Trump wrote on Twitter.
Putin said Friday that Russia will not expel anyone despite Washington's latest sanctions, according to the Kremlin press service.
"We will not create problems for American diplomats. We will not expel anyone," Putin said in a statement.
Three weeks before leaving office, U.S. President Barack Obama on Thursday struck back at Russia over alleged election hacking.
Nine Russian entities and individuals, including two Russian intelligence services, were sanctioned for their alleged interfering with the U.S. election, Obama said in a statement.
In addition, the U.S. State Department on Thursday announced ejection of 35 Russian government officials from the United States, calling them "acting in a manner inconsistent with their diplomatic status."
Two Russian government-owned compounds, one in U.S. State of Maryland and one in New York, would also soon be shuttered, according to the State Department.
Putin regretted that Obama was finishing his term by imposing new sanctions against Moscow, saying that Moscow considered new unfriendly steps of the outgoing U.S. administration a "provocation aimed at further undermining the Russia-U.S. relations."
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Putin says Russia not to expel anyone despite U.S. sanctions
MOSCOW, Dec. 30 (Xinhua) -- Russian President Vladimir Putin said Friday that Russia will not expel anyone despite Washington's latest sanctions, according to the Kremlin press service.
"We will not create problems for American diplomats. We will not expel anyone," Putin said in a statement. Full story
Spotlight: U.S. sanctions Russia over alleged election hacking, Moscow threatens to retaliate
WASHINGTON, Dec. 29 (Xinhua) -- Three weeks before leaving office, U.S. President Barack Obama on Thursday struck back at Russia over alleged election hacking in a move to box in his successor Donald Trump who had so far showed willingness to work with Russia.
Nine Russian entities and individuals, including two Russian intelligence services, were sanctioned for their alleged interfering with the U.S. election, Obama said in a statement. Full story
