'Our patience has limits' Russia threatens revenge over Obama 'spy' expulsions
RUSSIA may retaliate against the US over the Obama administration's expulsion of 35 Russian diplomats it said were spies, according to a top Kremlin official.
Vladimir Putin and the plane which flew 35 expelled Russian diplomats back to Russia
Moscow is also waiting for the return of two diplomatic compounds seized in the US during the same espionage scandal
Foreign policy aide Yuri Ushakov said: "We are waiting for the return of Russian diplomatic property illegally impounded before the New Year by the previous US authorities.
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Our patience is not without limits. Retaliation should not be ruled out
"We decided not to respond immediately to this escapade but no one has yet abolished the principle of reciprocity in diplomacy
"Our patience is not without limits. Retaliation should not be ruled out."
Barack Obama ordered the expulsion of the 35 Russians in late December and imposed sanctions on two Russian intelligence agencies over what he said was their involvement in hacking political groups in the US presidential elections.
Barack Obama ordered the expulsion of 35 Russian diplomats he accused of spying
Russian President Vladimir Putin said at the time he would not retaliate immediately and would wait until at least Donald Trump took office on before deciding what action to take.
Mr Ushakov said a meeting between Mr Putin and Mr Trump was likely to happen under the auspices of the G20 summit in Hamburg in Germany in July and that it was important that their meeting brought tangible results.
Washington's relations with Moscow are under the spotlight after the sacking of FBI Director James Comey was linked to his Russia investigation.
Donald Trump is under scrutiny after firing FBI boss James Comey
Mr Comey reportedly wanted to expand his agency's probe into whether the Trump campaign had ties to alleged Russian meddling in the 2016 US presidential election.
Mr Trump has said he isn’t aware of any involvement by his aides in any Russian election interference calling the various investigations a "hoax."