Russian President Vladimir Putin said today he will not expel 35 U.S. diplomats, rejecting his foreign minister's recommendation to do so in response to U.S. sanctions.
Putin, in a statement on the Kremlin's website today, referred to the new sanctions, including the expulsion of Russian intelligence operatives, as "provocation and aimed at further weakening the Russia-U.S. relationship."
"The diplomats who are returning to Russia will spend the New Year’s holidays with their families and friends," Putin said in a statement that also included season's greetings to President Obama and Donald Trump. "We will not create any problems for US diplomats. We will not expel anyone."
He added: "As it proceeds from international practice, Russia has reasons to respond in kind. Although we have the right to retaliate, we will not resort to irresponsible ‘kitchen’ diplomacy but will plan our further steps to restore Russian-U.S. relations based on the policies of the Trump administration."
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NOW - There is a MATURE ADULT conducting REAL diplomacy.
http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/russia-expel-35-us-diplomats-response-obama-sanctions/story?id=44464656
Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good ...
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