US, Russia engage in diplomatic spat over alleged hacking

The United States and Russia have engaged in a dangerous diplomatic spat, after the former issued sanctions on the latter over their involvement in hacking U.S. political groups in the 2016 presidential election, which sparked reaction from Russia.

U.S. President Barack Obama on Dec. 29 ordered the expulsion of 35 Russian suspected spies within 72 hours, imposed sanctions on two Russian intelligence agencies and a decision to shut down two Russian compounds in the U.S. on grounds that Russia was reportedly involved in hacking U.S. political groups in order to interfere in the 2016 presidential election. 

"I have ordered a number of actions in response to the Russian government's aggressive harassment of US officials and cyber operations aimed at the US election," Obama said in a statement from Hawaii, where he is on vacation on Dec. 29. 

"These actions follow repeated private and public warnings that we have issued to the Russian government, and are a necessary and appropriate response to efforts to harm U.S. interests in violation of established international norms of behavior," Obama said.

"All Americans should be alarmed by Russia's actions," he said. 

In response to the U.S. sanctions, as part of the "retaliatory" measures promised by the Kremlin right after the sanctions were announced, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov suggested to expel 35 U.S. diplomats from the country.

Lavrov said in televised remarks on Dec. 30 that the Foreign Ministry and other agencies have suggested that Russian President Vladimir Putin order expulsion of 31 employees of the U.S. embassy in Moscow and 4 diplomats from the U.S. consulate in St. Petersburg. Another suggestion is to bar U.S. diplomats from using their summer...