Speaking with NPR’s Morning Edition, Carnegie’s Andrew Weiss discussed Russian reactions to the sanctions imposed by the Obama administration. The U.S. sanctions were intended as a response to evidence of Russian hackers attempting to influence the U.S. presidential elcetions. Weiss explained that Putin’s surprise decision not to expel U.S. diplomats from Russia in response to the sanctions served multiple purposes. The Kremlin is leaving open the option of retaliating, Weiss said, but “for now, [Moscow] is going to wait and see what the Trump administration’s Russia policy is about.” Ultimately, Weis said, by not responding with retaliations, Putin is trying to undermine the credibility of what the U.S. intelligence agencies are claiming.
This interview was originally broadcast by NPR’s Morning Edition.