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US SANCTIONS: Russia intensifies retaliation, expels 755 US diplomats

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Vladimir Putin‘s Russia has responded to additional sanctions on Moscow approved by the US Congress by expelling no less than 755 American diplomats while also vowing to impose sanctions.

Explaining his decision in an interview relayed on state television on Sunday, Putin said he ordered the move because he “thought it was the time to show that we’re not going to leave that without an answer”.

He, however, ruled out any immediate measure against the US. “I am against it as of today,” Putin said in an interview with Vesti TV.

Two days ago, Russia, which has been accused of meddling in the 2016 US election, reportedly seized two American diplomatic properties and said that the United States Embassy should reduce its staff by September.

Read also: New Russia sanctions agreed by US govt

The move by Russia also came a day after the United States Senate approved a measure to expand economic sanctions against Russia, as well as against Iran and North Korea.

Russia has been condemned by the US for its alleged hacks aimed at swaying the Nov. 8 election for Trump but Moscow has repeatedly denied interfering both in the French election by hacking and leaking emails and documents of U.S. intelligence agencies during the last elections.

There are reports that there was an attempt by Russian intelligence agents to spy on the election campaign of French President Emmanuel Macron earlier this year.

 

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