Vladimir Putin Says Russia Won’t Expel U.S. Diplomats in Retaliation for Sanctions
Russian President Vladimir Putin said on state media today that he will not force 35 American operatives out of his country in a tit-for-tat response to new sanctions from the Obama Administration.
President Obama ordered the new measures into effect on Thursday in order to punish Russia for hacking American political networks and interfering with the 2016 election. As part of the penalty on Russian intelligence, 35 operatives have been ordered to leave America, and Russian compounds in the U.S. will be shut down.
In response to the new sanctions, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov proposed that Russia expel 35 U.S. operatives: 31 from the American Embassy in Moscow, plus 4 more from the American Consulate in St. Petersburg. According to CNN, however, Putin said he would not follow through with the proposal yet, and that he will wait until President-Elect Donald Trump takes office before reevaluating relations with America.
“We will not create problems for American diplomats. We will not send anyone away,” said Putin. “Further steps towards the restoration of Russian-American relations will be built on the basis of the policies carried out by the administration of President Trump.”
Trump has largely rejected the idea that Russia meddled with the election his behalf, and he responded to the sanctions last night that by saying, “It’s time for our country to move on to bigger and better things.” Trump did indicate that he will soon meet with intelligence community leaders though, many of whom concluded that Russia did try to influence the United States presidential election.
Watch the report above, via ABC.
[Image via screengrab]
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