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Compounds in New York and Maryland are about to be closed to Putin’s representatives over what America has deemed to be inappropriate behaviour in Russia.

A US official, speaking on condition of anonymity, told Reuters the Russian diplomats would be given 72 hours to leave the United States.

The official told Reuters: "These actions were taken to respond to Russian harassment of American diplomats and actions by the diplomats that we have assessed to be not consistent with diplomatic practice.

"By imposing costs on the Russian diplomats in the United States, by denying them access to the two facilities, we hope the Russian government reevaluates its own actions, which have impeded the ability and safety of our own embassy personnel in Russia."

The Kremlin has branded the sanctions “unlawful” and said it was not clear if incoming president Trump supports them.

A spokesman for the Kremlin said the country will retaliate and President Putin will decide how.

Dmitry Peskov, spokesman for Russian President Vladimir Putin said sanctions against Russia would harm relations between Moscow and Washington.