Finally Russia has promised to respond to the expulsion of 35 diplomats from Washington,during a bitter dispute over the reported Russian interference in the US presidential election 2016.

A spokesman for President Vladimir Putin have said that the Kremlin's reaction would cause "significant discomfort" for the US.

However, he had hinted that Russia will wait until Donald Trump, becomes president, who has played down the hacking claims.

Russia has denied any kind of involvement and called the US sanctions "ungrounded".

The US state department has declared 35 Russian diplomats as "persona non grata", from the Washington embassy and the consulate in San Francisco and gave them and their families 72 hours to leave the US.

Sanctions have already been announced against nine entities and individuals including two Russian intelligence agencies, the GRU and the FSB.

The US closes two compounds, in New York and Maryland, used by Russian intelligence services.

Barack Obama: I could have won the White House again

Barack Obama had sought action against Russia amid US accusations that it has directed cyber-attacks against the Democratic Party and Hillary Clinton's campaign.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said, reacting to the announcement, "Undoubtedly, commensurate reaction based on the principle of reciprocity will cause significant discomfort to the American side in the same areas."

But he added that Russia would not act "in haste" and alluded to the upcoming change at the helm of the US.

According to Mr Peskov, "These decisions were taken by President Obama, but Trump will become the head of state in three weeks' time. Of course, this factor will certainly be taken into account one way or another."

By Prakriti Neogi