U.S. SLAPS RUSSIA WITH SANCTIONS FOR CYBERHACKS, POLL MEDDLING

The United States launched diplomatic and financial offensives against Russian officials and businesses on Thursday in retaliation for election-meddling and Moscow-linked hacking that compromised major federal agencies.

The move included the expulsion of 10 Russian diplomats from the US and sanctions on several organizations and individuals, the White House and State Department said, Deutsche Presse-Agentur (dpa) reported.

Washington also cited Russia's continued occupation of Crimea, which it annexed from Ukraine seven years ago, and for reportedly offering bounties to militants in Afghanistan who killed US troops.

Among the expelled diplomats are five employees of Russian intelligence services.

In addition, US banks will be barred from trading in fresh Russian state debt starting on June 14, while six Russian technology companies accused of helping the state engage in malicious cyber activities were hit.

Despite the fresh sanctions, the US does not seek to escalate tensions with Russia, President Joe Biden said Thursday.

"The United States is not looking to kick off a cycle of escalation and conflict with Russia," Biden said in brief remarks at the White House. "We want a stable, predictable relationship."

The White House had also stressed this earlier. "The Biden administration has been clear that the United States desires a relationship with Russia that is stable and predictable," a White House statement read.

"We do not think that we need to continue on a negative trajectory. However, we have also been clear - publicly and privately - that we will defend our national interests and impose costs for Russian government actions that seek to harm us."

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