Moscow: In a rare break from the diplomatic tradition of reciprocal punishment, Russian President Vladimir Putin said Friday he would not deport US diplomats in response to US hacking sanctions, as Russia looks to cultivate relations with the incoming administration of President-elect Donald Trump.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov had proposed that Moscow expel 35 US diplomats and ban US diplomatic staff from using two facilities in Moscow after US President Barack Obama announced similar measures against Russia in response to alleged Russian involvement in political hacking during the 2016 presidential election.
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However the RIA news agency said Mr Putin had resisted calls for retaliation, and instead he would consider the actions of President-elect Donald Trump, who takes office next month, when deciding on further steps in Russia-US relations.
"We will not expel anyone," Mr Putin said in a statement. "We won't create problems for American diplomats."
Mr Putin said he saw the sanctions as another step to undermine relations between Moscow and Washington, and added that he regretted that the Obama administration was ending its term in such a way.
Russian politicians and officials have been sounding off for the last day on how to respond to the Obama administration's sweeping measures against Russia, the largest mass expulsion of diplomats since the United States expelled 51 Russian diplomats in 2001 for spying.
While some officials called for direct retaliation, others urged caution, suggesting that Russia should hedge its bets so as not to antagonise the incoming Trump administration, which Moscow hopes will be more amenable to its interests.
Instead, they have directed their outrage at the Obama administration, which is in its final month.
![Russian President Vladimir Putin, centre, and Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, left, listen to Defence Minister Sergei ...](/web/20170101233741im_/http://www.theage.com.au/content/dam/images/g/t/k/4/l/m/image.related.articleLeadwide.620x349.gtk4l8.png/1483138235666.jpg)
Russian officials have portrayed the US sanctions as a last act of a lame-duck president and suggested that Mr Trump could reverse them when he takes over the White House in January.
Russian Prime Minster Dmitry Medvedev earlier said the Obama administration was ending its term in "anti-Russia death throes".
![Russian President Vladimir Putin and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov.](/web/20170101233741im_/http://www.theage.com.au/content/dam/images/g/t/k/4/l/n/image.related.articleLeadwide.620x349.gtk4l8.png/1483138235666.jpg)
"It is regrettable that the Obama administration, which started out by restoring our ties, is ending its term in an anti-Russia death throes. RIP," Mr Medvedev, who served as president in 2009 when Mr Obama tried to improve Russia-US relations, wrote on his official Facebook page.
It is regrettable that the Obama administration, which started out by restoring our ties, is ending its term in an anti-Russia agony. RIP
— Dmitry Medvedev (@MedvedevRussiaE) December 30, 2016
![Vladimir Putin and Barack Obama face-to-face at the at G20 in September.](/web/20170101233741im_/http://www.theage.com.au/content/dam/images/g/r/9/l/y/5/image.related.articleLeadwide.620x349.gtk4l8.png/1483138235666.jpg)
The US sanctions also closed two Russian compounds in New York and Maryland that the administration said were used by Russian personnel for "intelligence-related purposes".
Washington Post, Reuters