Putin: Russia will not expel any Americans

Russian President Vladimir Putin said that Russia will not expel anyone as a response to US sanctions against Moscow over alleged hacking.

Moscow will determine further steps in restoring ties with the United States depending on the policy of President-elect Donald Trump, Sputnik news agency quoted Putin as saying. 

"Reserving the right to retaliate, we will not resort to the level of irresponsible 'kitchen' diplomacy and further steps toward the restoration of Russian-US relations will be build on the basis of the policy carried out by the administration of President Donald Trump", Putin further said. 

"We regard the new unfriendly steps of the outgoing US administration as provocation aimed at further undermining Russian-US relations", he said. 

On Thursday, US outgoing President Barack Obama announced the expulsion of 35 Russian diplomats, the closing of two Russian diplomatic compounds in Maryland and New York and new sanctions against six Russian individuals and five entities over Moscow's alleged interference in the November US presidential election, which the Kremlin has repeatedly denied.

Source: MENA