Russia threatens reprisal after US imposed sanctions on it, expelled its diplomats

Hours after the US imposed sanctions on Russia, including expelling its diplomats for interfering in the last US elections, a claim the Kremlin denies, President Vladimir Putin has pledged “adequate reprisals”.

Russia accused Washington of trying to destroy ties by making “unfounded” allegations of interference in the US election, imposing tough sanctions on Russia’s top two intelligence agencies, expulsion of 35 diplomats and a decision to shut down two Russian compounds in the US.

The United States wants to “definitively destroy US-Russia relations which have already reached a low,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Thursday, adding that Russia will “react in an adequate manner based on the principles of reciprocity”.

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“We categorically reject the unfounded assertions and accusations made about Russia,” Peskov said, according to the Ria-Novosti news agency.

“The American sanctions against Russia and the expulsion of 35 diplomats in 72 hours are proof of a real paranoia,” said Leonid Slutsky, the Chairman of the State Duma Committee on International Affairs.

“They are once again taking very aggressive measures against our country,” he said, according to Ria-Novosti.

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