Russian President Vladimir Putin has declined to engage in a tit-for-tat after the US expelled 35 Russian diplomats over the hacking scandal.

He said Russia would not “stoop” to the level of “irresponsible diplomacy”, and would work to restore ties with America under President-elect Donald Trump.

The Russian foreign ministry had formally asked him to expel 35 US diplomats in retaliation.

Russia denies involvement in hacking, calling US sanctions “ungrounded”.

Under the US action taken on Thursday:

Thirty-five diplomats from Russia’s Washington embassy and its consulate in San Francisco were declared “persona non grata” and given 72 hours to leave the US with their families

Two properties said to have been used by Russian intelligence services in New York and Maryland will be closed

Sanctions were announced against nine entities and individuals including two Russian intelligence agencies, the GRU and the FSB

Mr Obama, who will be replaced by Donald Trump on 20 January, had vowed action against Russia amid US accusations that it directed cyber-attacks on the Democratic Party and Hillary Clinton’s campaign.

President-elect Trump has dismissed the hacking claims as “ridiculous” and said Americans should “get on with our lives” when asked previously about the possibility of sanctions.

However, he said late on Thursday he would meet US intelligence chiefs next week to be “updated on the facts of this situation