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Russia-US row: Trump praises Putin amid hacking expulsions Russia-US row: Trump praises Putin amid hacking expulsions
(35 minutes later)
US President-elect Donald Trump has praised Vladimir Putin after he ruled out expelling American diplomats, despite a similar move by Washington in response to alleged hacking. US President-elect Donald Trump has praised Vladimir Putin for not expelling American diplomats, despite a similar move by Washington in response to alleged election interference.
Mr Trump tweeted: "Great move on delay (by V. Putin) - I always knew he was very smart!" Mr Trump tweeted: "Great move on delay - I always knew he was very smart!"
Mr Putin had earlier said Russia would not stoop to "irresponsible diplomacy". Moscow denies any involvement in election-related hacking.
Washington expelled 35 diplomats over hacking related to the US election. Moscow denies any involvement. But in one of the last moves of the Obama presidency, Washington demanded Russian 35 diplomats leave the country by Sunday afternoon.
Mr Trump emphasised his statement on the row by pinning his tweet to the top of his account. Mr Putin ruled out an immediate tit-for-tat response.
It was unclear exactly what he was referring to with the term "delay". The row follows allegations that Russia directed hacks against the Democratic Party and Hillary Clinton's presidential campaign, releasing embarrassing information through Wikileaks and other outlets to help Mr Trump win the election.
He has previously dismissed the hacking claims as "ridiculous" and said that Americans should "get on with our lives" when asked about the possibility of sanctions. Several US agencies including the FBI and the CIA say this is the case, but Mr Trump initially dismissed the claims as "ridiculous". He has since said he will meet US intelligence chiefs to be "updated on the facts of this situation".
However, speaking before Mr Putin's decision, Mr Trump did say he would meet US intelligence chiefs next week to be "updated on the facts of this situation". The Obama administration announced retaliatory measures on Thursday:
His senior aide Kellyanne Conway said on Thursday: "Even those who are sympathetic to President Obama on most issues are saying that part of the reason he did this today was to quote 'box in' President-elect Trump. Diplomatic spat goes undiplomatic
"That would be very unfortunate if politics were the motivating factor here. We can't help but think that's often true." Can the hack be traced to Russia?
18 revelations from Wikileaks' hacked Clinton emails
After the US announced it would expel diplomats, Russia's spokesman, Dmitry Peskov, had vowed Russia would respond to the "manifestation of unpredictable and aggressive foreign policy". But he hinted it might delay its action until Mr Trump became president.
Russia's foreign ministry suggested expelling 31 US diplomats from Moscow and four from St Petersburg.
But Mr Putin said his country would not stoop to "irresponsible diplomacy", and invited the children of US diplomats there to spend New Year's Eve at the Kremlin.
In a statement on the Kremlin website (in Russian), the Russian president wished President Barack Obama and his family a happy New Year, as well as Mr Trump and "the whole American people".
Standing alone? BBC's Laura Bicker in WashingtonStanding alone? BBC's Laura Bicker in Washington
The contrast between the words of the president and those of the president-elect could not be more stark.The contrast between the words of the president and those of the president-elect could not be more stark.
Siding with a foreign adversary instead of the sitting president is a dramatic departure from normal diplomatic practice during this transition phase.Siding with a foreign adversary instead of the sitting president is a dramatic departure from normal diplomatic practice during this transition phase.
And Donald Trump may find himself alone in his admiration. President Obama has broad bipartisan support for his actions and a full hearing to discuss the hacking allegations has been scheduled in Congress next week.And Donald Trump may find himself alone in his admiration. President Obama has broad bipartisan support for his actions and a full hearing to discuss the hacking allegations has been scheduled in Congress next week.
Under the US action:
Barack Obama, who will be replaced by Donald Trump on 20 January, had vowed action against Russia amid US accusations that it directed cyber-attacks on the Democratic Party and Hillary Clinton's campaign.
Emails stolen from her campaign manager and from the servers of the Democratic National Committee - some containing embarrassing information for Democrats - were released during the election campaign.
In a statement on the Kremlin website (in Russian), Mr Putin said: "We won't be expelling anyone.
"We won't be banning their families and children from the places where they usually spend the New Year holidays. Furthermore, I invite all children of American diplomats accredited in Russia to the New Year and Christmas Tree in the Kremlin."
The Russian president wished Barack Obama and his family a happy New Year, as well as Mr Trump and "the whole American people".
Mr Putin's comments rebuffed his foreign ministry which had reportedly suggested expelling 31 US diplomats from Moscow and four from St Petersburg.
It also suggested banning US diplomats from their dachas (holiday homes) in Serebryany Bor near Moscow and a warehouse on Moscow's Dorozhnaya Street.
There has been no response yet to Mr Putin's move from the Obama administration.There has been no response yet to Mr Putin's move from the Obama administration.
However, Senator John McCain, chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, described the Russian hacking as an "act of war".However, Senator John McCain, chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, described the Russian hacking as an "act of war".
"And so we have to make sure that there is a price to pay, so that we can perhaps persuade the Russians to stop these kind of attacks on our very fundamentals of democracy.""And so we have to make sure that there is a price to pay, so that we can perhaps persuade the Russians to stop these kind of attacks on our very fundamentals of democracy."
He said a lot more needed to be done in response to the hacking, with many sanctions possible.He said a lot more needed to be done in response to the hacking, with many sanctions possible.