But repeated contacts just as Obama imposed sanctions would raise questions about whether Trump's team discussed - or even helped shape - Russia's response. Russian President Vladimir Putin unexpectedly did not retaliate against the US for the move, a decision Trump quickly praised. "If Putin likes Donald Trump, I consider that an asset, not a liability, because we have a horrible relationship with Russia," he said. The sanctions targeted the GRU and FSB, leading Russian intelligence agencies that the US said were involved in the hacking of the Democratic National Committee and other groups. In briefing Trump on their findings, intelligence officials also presented the President-elect with unsubstantiated claims that Russia had amassed compromising personal and financial allegations about him, according to a separate US official.

Source: New Zealand Herald January 14, 2017 16:07 UTC