MOSCOW, (MILLAT+APP/AFP) – Russian President Vladimir
Putin on Friday ruled out tit-for-tat expulsions of Americans in response to US sanctions over alleged cyberattacks, a move that won plaudits from
President-elect Donald Trump.
Putin’s decision came despite the foreign ministry asking him to send
home 35 US diplomats after President Barack Obama had turfed out the same number of Russian staff.
Trump’s intervention — in a tweet — however illustrated the
shifting political tide in Washington barely three weeks before the Republican is due to succeed Obama at the White House.
“Great move on delay (by V. Putin) – I always knew he was very
smart!” the incoming US president wrote.
The alleged hacking of the US presidential election in November
outraged Obama, culminating in the expulsions and other sanctions.
But outlining why he would not retaliate Putin cited Trump’s imminent
accession.
“We will not expel anyone,” Putin said in a statement, also inviting
children of US diplomats to a holiday party at the Kremlin.
Instead, Moscow would plan its next steps “based on the policies
pursued by the administration of president Donald Trump”, while warning that the Kremlin reserves the right to respond.
The Russian leader chided the outgoing Obama for “unfriendly steps”
amounting to “a provocation aimed at further undermining Russian-American
relations.”
Putin’s remarks confirmed that Moscow is pinning its hopes on Trump
to help rebuild ties — which have plunged to their lowest point since the Cold War — when he takes office next month.