Russian Federation retaliates over United States sanctions

Putin, who has repeatedly denied US allegations that Russian Federation interfered with last year's USA presidential election, said Moscow would only decide on how to retaliate against Washington once it had seen the final text of the proposed law.

"It's very sad that U.S".

President Trump said Friday night he would sign the sanctions legislation because Congress was responsive to his input on the bill.

Russia's action, outlined in a statement from the Foreign Ministry, came a day after the Senate voted for new sanctions against Russian Federation, putting President Donald Trump in a tough position by forcing him to take a hard line on Moscow or veto the legislation and anger the Republican Party, Reuters reported. US officials won't say how many diplomats will have to leave to reach the 455-person limit imposed by Russian Federation. The legislation was in part a response to conclusions by USA intelligence agencies that Russian Federation meddled in the 2016 US presidential election, and to further punish Russian Federation for its annexation of Crimea in 2014.

Lavrov and Tillerson "agreed to maintain contact on a range of bilateral issues", the Russian Foreign Ministry said.

Asked if Russian President Vladimir Putin had authorized the move, Peskov said such measures are "impossible without the President's permission".

A diplomatic source told Reuters that it would be for the United States to decide which posts to cut, whether occupied by USA or Russian nationals. The sanctions also included the closure of two Russian compounds, in Maryland and NY, used for intelligence purposes.

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The statement noted that the idea of Russophobia and confrontation has taken root within "certain circles" in the United States. Relations with the United States "are at such a low level that we have nothing to lose" by retaliating , he said .

Putin also spoke about an ongoing diplomatic row between Moscow and Washington which erupted last December when then U.S. President Barack Obama ordered the seizure of Russian diplomatic property in the United States and the expulsion of 35 Russian diplomats. The U.S. Embassy said Tefft had expressed his "strong disappointment and protest".

The proposed measures target Russia's energy sector as part of legislation that prevents President Donald Trump from easing sanctions on Moscow without congressional approval.

Last December, the outgoing Obama administration seized two Russian diplomatic compounds - one in NY and another in Maryland - at the same time as it expelled Russian diplomats.

Russia's Foreign Ministry said the new sanctions law "confirms the extreme aggressiveness of the United States in its foreign affairs".

The Russian Foreign Ministry said it would retaliate again if the United States chose to expel any Russian diplomats, Reuters reported.

The White House says Trump supports sanctions on the three countries in question and will review the legislation.

He bemoaned the worsening of relations with the United States, saying "Of course, we regret it very much".