Russia President Putin Sends 755 US Diplomats packing from Russia

[Postmaster (OP)]

The Kremlin vowed Sunday to retaliate against the United States for approving new sanctions against Russia for its meddling in last year's presidential election to help President Donald Trump win the White House.

Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov told ABC News' "This Week"

Russian President Vladimir Putin says 755 U.S. diplomats in the country must leave in retaliation for new sanctions Washington is imposing on Moscow for its meddling in the 2016 election to help President Donald Trump win the White House.

Putin told a Russian television network, "More than a thousand people were working and are still working" at the U.S. embassy and consulates, and "755 people must stop their activities in Russia."

The Russian leader said Moscow could take additional retaliatory steps against the United States following overwhelming congressional approval of new sanctions against Russia, but said, "I am against it as of today."

Moscow said the expulsion of hundreds of U.S. envoys by September 1 would leave both of the countries with the same number of diplomats in the two countries, 455.

Earlier, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov told ABC News' This Week show, "I think this retaliation is long, long overdue."

He said Moscow has "a very rich toolbox at our disposal. It would be ridiculous on my part to start speculating on what may or may not happen. But I can assure you that different options are on the table and consideration is being given to all sorts of things."

The White House says Trump will sign the legislation imposing the new sanctions against Russia, Iran and North Korea.

Watch: Trump Expected to Sign New Russia Sanctions