Kremlin Says Putin Will Order Appropriate Response to US Sanctions

In addition to the expulsions, Washington closed two Russian compounds in New York and Maryland.

Russian President Vladimir Putin. (Photo: Reuters)

The spokesman for Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Thursday that a new round of US sanctions against Russia would harm relations between Moscow and Washington.

Dmitry Peskov said Putin would order an "appropriate" retaliation to the sanctions, which included the expulsion of 35 diplomats.

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In a conference call with reporters, Peskov said Moscow doubted the effectiveness of the measures as the current US presidential administration was stepping down in three weeks.

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There is no reason to believe Russia will cease interfering in US and other countries' elections, Obama administration officials told reporters on a conference call after the president announced sanctions against Moscow.

We believe these steps are important because Russia is not going to stop,” one official said. “We have every indication that they will interfere in democratic elections in other countries, including some of our European allies.

Senior official