Putin
Stunner: "We Will Not Expel Anyone; We Refuse To Sink To
'Kitchen' Diplomacy"
30
December, 2016
Vladimir
the merciful?
Following
this morning's reports that Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov would
recommend to Russian President Vladimir Putin a retaliation in kind,
and expel 35 American diplomats, saying that “we cannot leave such
acts unanswered.
Reciprocity is part of diplomatic law" with
Putin spokesman Peskov adding that "there is no doubt that
Russia's adequate and mirror response will make Washington officials
feel very uncomfortable as well", it was ultimately up to Putin
to decide how to respond to the US.
Which
he did on Friday morning, when in a stunning reversal, the Russian
leader took the high road, rejected the Lavrov proposal, and in a
statement posted by the Kremlin said that Russia won’t expel any
Americans in retaliation to US moves, in a brutal demonstration of
just how irrelevant Obama's 11th hour decision is for US-Russian
relations
The
reversal comes as Russian officials portrayed U.S. sanctions as a
last act of a lame-duck president and suggested that Trump could
reverse them when he takes over the White House in January
Earlier
Russian Prime Minster Dmitry Medvedev said the Obama administration
was ending its term in "anti-Russia death throes."
"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," Medvedev, who served as president in 2009 when
Obama tried to improve Russia-U.S. relations, wrote on his official
Facebook page.
In
the just released statement, Putin laughed off Obama's 11th hour
temper tantrum, and said that Russia won’t cause problems to U.S.
diplomats or deport anyone, adding that Russia has the right to
respond in tit-for-tat manner, but it will not engage in
irresponsible diplomacy.
The
punchline, however, was saved for what may be Russia's final slam of
the debacle that is Obama's administration saying that "It’s a
pity that the current U.S. administration is finishing their work in
such a manner" saying that Russia refuses "to sink to the
level of this irresponsible "kitchen" diplomacy."
Putin
ended the statement by congratulating U.S. President-elect Donald
Trump, and the American people on the New Year and invited the
hildren of US diplomats to a holiday celebration at the Kremlin.
Although
we have the right to retaliate, we will not resort to irresponsible
‘kitchen’ diplomacy but will plan our further steps to restore
Russian-US relations based on the policies of the Trump
Administration.
And
with that one statement, Obama lost the diplomatic war with Russia.
In
other news, the Kremlin said it will send a government plane to the
US to evacuate the expelled diplomats and their family members.
Earlier, there were reports that the diplomats were having problems
buying tickets on such short notice, with airlines already booked by
New Year’s travelers.
*
* *
We
regard the recent unfriendly steps taken by the outgoing US
administration as provocative and aimed at further weakening the
Russia-US relationship. This runs contrary to the fundamental
interests of both the Russian and American people. Considering the
global security responsibilities of Russia and the United States,
this is also damaging to international relations as a whole.
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-US relations based on the policies
of the Trump Administration.
The
diplomats who are returning to Russia will spend the New Year’s
holidays with their families and friends. We will not create any
problems for US diplomats. We will not expel anyone. We will not
prevent their families and children from using their traditional
leisure sites during the New Year’s holidays. Moreover, I invite
all children of US diplomats accredited in Russia to the New Year and
Christmas children’s parties in the Kremlin.
It
is regrettable that the Obama Administration is ending its term in
this manner. Nevertheless, I offer my New Year greetings to President
Obama and his family.
My
season’s greetings also to President-elect Donald Trump and the
American people.
I
wish all of you happiness and prosperity.
'I
always knew he was smart' – Trump responds to Putin's reaction to
sanctions
30
December, 2016
Heightened
tensions between the US and Russia did not seem to greatly concern an
affable President-elect Donald Trump, who took to Twitter to praise
Russian President Vladimir Putin’s limited response to President
Barack Obama’s newly enacted sanctions.
In
response to President Obama’s decision to expel Russian diplomats
and impose more sanctions on Russia, Russian President Putin has so
far only indicated Moscow would not to retaliate in the same fashion,
promising not to throw out US diplomats in his country.
Putin
said he regretted that Obama was ending his term “in
such a way,” but
that he extended his New Year’s congratulations to the outgoing US
president and his family nevertheless.
President-elect
Trump has taken this as an apparent decision to wait on a more robust
response until a new administration occupies the White House.
Calling
the delay a “great
move,”
and saying that he “always
knew [Putin] was smart!”
Trump not only shared his opinion on the tensions between Obama’s
administration and Moscow, but emphasized it by pinning the tweet to
the top of his page.
This
comes following Thursday’s news that Obama issued new
sanctions targeting intelligence services and officials as well
as techlology companeis, overall amounting to four individuals and
five entities, which the US government has accused of hacking
into American institutions ahead of the November election.
In
the executive order, which Obama signed
Wednesday night, the president said he was taking “additional
steps to deal with the national emergency with respect to significant
malicious cyber-enabled activities… in view of the increasing use
of such activities to undermine democratic processes or
institutions.”
Neither
Trump nor his transition team have indicated what he's planning
to do after he takes office. Trump said in a statement on Thursday
that he will "meet
with leaders of the intelligence community next week in order to be
updated about the facts of this situation."
Russian Embassy, UK
diplomats in Cold War deja vu. As everybody, incl 
people, will be glad to see the last of this hapless Adm.
Donald J. Trump
RT
