Putin’s response to the hacking scandal expulsion:

Claims of Russian hacking have circulated since Republican nominee Donald Trump won the election. Many people claim that the former Soviet Union had played a hand in this victory, by apparently hacking, and leaking the emails of Hilary Clinton, and a vital aide in her campaign.

In the midst of this election, Trump made several praising comments about President Putin’s country and leadership, and Putin has responded with faith in Trump’s government if the billionaire should win. This, of course, only fuelled rumours. On the positive side of things, however, this has led between a friendship between the two, with each declaring an end to the “cold war” between the two superpowers.

If only Barack Obama saw things in the same light. The current President of the United States, seeing Russia’s potential involvement in the election as a threat, has, as of yesterday, announced that his administration is expelling 35 Russian diplomats as punishment for the alleged hacking, and giving them only 72 hours to leave the country. Russia has, of course, denied any role in the President-elect’s victory, and, in a somewhat comical form of retaliation, the Russian Embassy mocked the Obama administration with the following tweet:

In the wake of this, many had expected Putin to retaliate by doing the same; expelling US diplomats. However, in a “Great move.” – used by President-elect Trump – the Russian President refused to play tit-for-tat expulsion, and instead, done the opposite. In a statement released by the Kremlin, Putin expressed why he would not be expelling US diplomats and that even all children of American diplomats will be welcome at the Kremlin.

Reserving the right to retaliate, we will not stoop to the level of “kitchen” irresponsible diplomacy and further steps towards the restoration of Russian-American relations will be build on the basis of the policy, which will carry out the administration of President D.Trump. (..) Russian diplomats will spend the New Year holidays in the circle of relatives and friends – at home. We will not create problems for American diplomats. We won’t be banning their families and children from the places where they usually spend the New Year holidays. Furthermore, I invite all children of American diplomats accredited in Russia to the New Year and Christmas Tree in the Kremlin.”

Trump’s complimetary tweet:

To finish off the aforementioned statement, the Russian President experess some dismay at Obama’s actions.

It is a pity that the President Obama administration completes its work this way, but, nevertheless, I congratulate him and his family a Happy New Year.

Congratulations the elected President D.Trump, and the American people!

I wish all welfare and prosperity!

Tensions between the United States and Russia have been mounting over this, and the conflict in Syria; both of which have put the relationship at breaking point. Accusations and denials have been frequent. It seems, rather ironically, that Donald Trump may “Make America Great Again” by mending the US’ ties with Russia.