Putin: Moscow won't expel US diplomats

Statement came hours after Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov suggested tit-for-tat expulsion

Russian President Vladimir Putin castigated the United States on Friday for bringing sanctions and expelling Russian diplomats amid allegations of Russian meddling in the US presidential election, but said no US diplomats will be ousted in reprisal for Washington's moves in the wake of hacking attacks.

In a burgeoning controversy surrounding complaints from the Obama administration about a cyber assault against the US political system, the White House on Thursday unleashed a string of sanctions and coupled them with an order that 35 Russians be expelled.