Following outgoing President, Barack Obama's sanctions on Russian intelligence agencies and the expulsion of 35 operatives at Russian diplomatic facil
Following outgoing President, Barack Obama’s sanctions on Russian intelligence agencies and the expulsion of 35 operatives at Russian diplomatic facilities in Washington and San Francisco and their families for election meddling, President Vladimir Putin has said that he will wait to see what incoming President, Donald Trump does before deciding on retaliatory sanctions.
The sanctions also bar two Russian intelligence agencies, three companies and four intelligence officers from traveling into or doing business with the U.S. Russians are also being barred from entering two compounds in Maryland and New York that the administration said were used for information-gathering.
But in a swift response that many didn’t expect, the President-elect praised the Russian He tweeted, “Great move on delay (by V. Putin) – I always knew he was very smart!”
It’s shockingly direct praise from an incoming American president for a Russian leader who’s been accused by U.S. intelligence agencies and President Barack Obama of overseeing hacking efforts aimed at influencing the 2016 election.
“While keeping the right for retaliatory measures, we will not descend to the level of … irresponsible diplomacy,” the Russian leader said on Friday, adding he would await the incoming Trump administration to begin on Jan. 20 before making any decisions.
Trump repeatedly praised Putin and Russia during and after the 2016 campaign, and declined opportunities to criticize the Russian leader and his government for human rights abuses and military actions in Syria and the Ukranian territory of Crimea. He specifically cited Putin’s leadership, saying, “When people call you ‘brilliant’ it’s always good, especially when the person heads up Russia. He’s running his country and at least he’s a leader. You know, unlike what we have in this country.”
Trump told NBC’s Matt Lauer earlier in the year that Putin was a better leader than Obama, and declined to say that Russia should not interfere in U.S. elections.
“I’m not going to tell Putin what to do. Why should I tell Putin what to do?” he said.
Most notably, during a press conference in July, Trump directly asked Russian intelligence agencies to hack into Hillary Clinton’s email server.
“If they hacked, they probably have her 33,000 emails. I hope they do,” Trump said. “Russia, if you’re listening, I hope you’re able to find the 30,000 emails that are missing.”
Trump’s friendly comments towards Putin and Russia have drawn rebuke from within his own party with some calling for an investigation into Russian hacking.
