Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered 755 US diplomats to leave the country in retaliation for Congress’ approving new sanctions for Moscow’s interference in the 2016 
 
 presidential election. 
 
 “We waited for quite some time that maybe something will change for the better, had such hope that the situation will somehow change, but, judging by everything, if it changes, it will not be soon,” Putin said in an interview on Russian television, according to Interfax news agency. 
 
 ​Putin made good on a threat he issued on Friday when he said he would ​expel 455 US diplomatic staff in Russia and seize two American properties after the Senate and the House voted overwhelmingly for new sanctions against Moscow. 
 
 The diplomats have to leave Russia by Sept. 1. 
 
 He said the ouster of the US diplomatic personnel will put the two former Cold War foes on equal footing. 
 
 “The personnel of the U.S. diplomatic missions in Russia will be cut by 755 people and will now equal the number of the Russian diplomatic personnel in the United States, 455 people on each side,” Putin said. 
 
 The Russian president left open the possibility that he could take additional measures against the US. 
 
 “I am against it as of today,” he said. 
 
 ​Earlier Sunday, Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov, appearing on ABC’s “This Week” said retaliation is “long, long overdue” after the Senate “voted so overwhelmingly on a completely weird and unacceptable piece of legislation​. I​t was the last drop.” 
 
 Asked how Russia would strike back, Rybakov said the Kremlin has a long list of options. 
 
 “We have a very rich toolbox at our disposal. It would be ridiculous on my part to start speculating on what may or may not happen​,” he said, adding “I can assure you that different options are on the table and consideration is being given to all sorts of things.” 
 
 Russia has denied it meddled in the election despite the US intelligence community concluding otherwise. 
 
 The Senate approved the bill by a 98-2 vote last week. The House previously approved the measure by a 419-3 margin. 
 
 ​It awaits President Trump’s signature, and the White House said he “intends” to sign it.​ 
 
 Russia has denied meddling in the election despite the US intelligence community concluding otherwise. 
 
 A number of congressional panels – as well as the FBI and special counsel Robert Mueller – are investigating Russian involvement and whether Trump associated colluded. 
 
 Moscow is also still fuming over former President Obama’s decision in December to oust 35 diplomats and seize two Russian diplomatic compounds in Maryland and Long Island because of the Kremlin’s involvement in the election. 
 
 Still, Rybakov said he hopes that the US and Russia can find common ground on other issues. 
 
 “I believe there are several areas where the U.S. and Russia can and should work together cooperatively. Nonproliferation of weapons of mass destruction, countering terrorism, illicit immigration, trafficking in people, climate change, you name it,” ​he said.
– The Senate voted 98 to 2 to approve new sanctions on Russia early Friday, and payback was swift: Russia's Foreign Ministry announced within hours that it is reducing the number of US diplomats in Russia as of Sept 1. and shutting down the US Embassy's recreational retreat, near Moscow, the AP reports. At a press conference before the retaliatory measures were announced, Vladimir Putin said Russia had behaved in a very "restrained and patient" way, but would have to respond to sanctions at some point, reports the Guardian. "It's impossible to endlessly tolerate this kind of insolence towards our country," Putin said. "This practice is unacceptable—it destroys international relations and international law." The Senate sanctions measure followed the House's passing of sanctions by an overwhelming 419-3 margin. The sanctions target Russia for interfering in the 2016 US election and for military aggression in Ukraine and Syria. The measure will severely limit President Trump's ability to suspend sanctions, and it's not clear whether he will sign it, though fellow Republicans including Sen. John McCain have urged him not to reject a measure with veto-proof bipartisan support, reports the New York Times. "We will not tolerate attacks on our democracy. That’s what this bill is all about," McCain said. "We must take our own side in this fight, not as Republicans, not as Democrats, but as Americans."