Russia’s prime minister said Friday he was disappointed U.S. President Barack Obama had decided to end his term in “anti-Russian agony.”
“It is sad that the Obama administration, which began its life with [a commitment to] renewed cooperation [with Russia], finishes it in anti-Russian agony. RIP, ” tweeted Dmitry Medvedev.
Medvedev, who was once considered pro-West, sent his first-ever tweet in 2010 from Twitter headquarters in San Francisco when he was still Russia’s president, before stepping aside to make way for Vladimir Putin’s third term.
Friday’s missive came a day after the U.S. announced it would sanction Russia and expel 35 of its intelligence operatives over alleged election-season hacks.
âThese actions follow repeated private and public warnings that we have issued to the Russian government, and are a necessary and appropriate response to efforts to harm U.S. interests in violation of established international norms of behavior,â President Barack Obama said in a statement.
Russia promised to retaliate.
“Tomorrow there will be an official statement, countermeasures, and much more,” Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova warned in a post on Facebook Thursday.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov echoed that sentiment, promising Russia would respond with âadequate, reciprocalâ measures âwhich will deliver significant discomfort to the U.S.â
However, Peskov said “thereâs no need to rushâ in announcing Russia’s countermeasures against Washington.
ÐеÑалÑно, ÑÑо админиÑÑÑаÑÐ¸Ñ ÐбамÑ, коÑоÑÐ°Ñ Ð½Ð°Ñинала ÑÐ²Ð¾Ñ Ð¶Ð¸Ð·Ð½Ñ Ñ Ð²Ð¾ÑÑÑÐ°Ð½Ð¾Ð²Ð»ÐµÐ½Ð¸Ñ ÑоÑÑÑдниÑеÑÑва, заканÑÐ¸Ð²Ð°ÐµÑ ÐµÐµ анÑиÑоÑÑийÑкой агонией. RIP
— ÐмиÑÑий Ðедведев (@MedvedevRussia) December 30, 2016