MOSCOW (Sputnik) — Earlier in the day, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said that Moscow is "outraged" over the fact that Washington has not yet resolved the situation with Russian diplomatic property in the US, adding that Moscow is working out its response to US actions.
"Different options are being considered, but a tough reaction has been prepared, I confirm this," Ryabkov said in an interview Tuesday.
Ryabkov added: "The longer the US takes the position of rejecting the obvious, namely that the diplomatic property should be returned and attempts to complicate the activities of the Russian diplomats should be stopped… the chances of an… equally tough answer from our side increase."
In December 2016, the administration of former US President Barack Obama imposed a set of punitive measures against Russia, including the expulsion of 35 Russian diplomats and the closure of the two Russian diplomatic compounds. The actions were taken in response to Moscow's alleged interference in the US presidential election, which Russia has repeatedly denied.
Back in December, Russian President Vladimir Putin decided not to respond to sanctions imposed by the outgoing US administration and act in accordance with the ties built with the new US leadership.
