Washington Post: “Russian President Vladimir Putin chaired a meeting of Russia’s Security Council on Friday as Moscow moved quickly to respond after U.S. sanctions and expulsions of diplomats, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said. Peskov said a presidential aide informed U.S. Ambassador John Sullivan of Russia’s response, but added no further details. He said the Security Council meeting also focused on military development. ‘Nobody has canceled the principle of reciprocity in such matters, it is a fundamental principle,’ Dmitry Peskov told reporters. ‘Yet again, everything will depend on the decision to be made by the head of state.'”

“His comments follow the U.S. announcement Thursday it would expel 10 Russian diplomats as well place sanctions on 32 Russia-related individuals and companies accused of interfering in the 2020 presidential election, spreading disinformation and other harmful actions. U.S. officials claim most of the diplomats on the expulsion list are intelligence officers working under diplomatic cover. Peskov said Putin and President Biden ‘saw eye to eye’ on the need to de-escalate tensions in U.S.-Russia relations, but ‘our U.S. counterparts’ liking for sanctions remains unacceptable.’ ‘President Putin talked about the feasibility of building, normalizing and de-escalating our relations,’ Peskov said. ‘He talks about it consistently. He is convinced of it. He has stated repeatedly that we are ready to develop our dialogue to the extent that our counterparts are ready to do it.’ Washington also banned U.S. financial institutions from buying Russian bonds from Russia’s central bank, Finance Ministry or national wealth fund. The move could deter investment in the bonds and increase Russian borrowing costs. Peskov said Russia’s economy would continue to work efficiently despite the ban.”