Moscow: In a rare break from the diplomatic tradition of reciprocal punishment, Russian President Vladimir Putin said Friday he would not deport US diplomats in response to US hacking sanctions, as Russia looks to cultivate relations with the incoming administration of President-elect Donald Trump.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov had proposed that Moscow expel 35 US diplomats and ban US diplomatic staff from using two facilities in Moscow after US President Barack Obama announced similar measures against Russia in response to alleged Russian involvement in political hacking during the 2016 presidential election.

However the RIA news agency said Mr Putin had resisted calls for retaliation, and instead he would consider the actions of President-elect Donald Trump, who takes office next month, when deciding on further steps in Russia-US relations.

"We will not expel anyone," Mr Putin said in a statement. "We won't create problems for American diplomats."