MOSCOW told Washington to end its foreign policy of “sanctions diktat” yesterday after 755 US embassy staff were sent packing.

Russian presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that Washington must find the “political will to improve relations” between the two powers, further fouled by allegations of Russian efforts to influence 2016’s US presidential election.

Before his election US President Donald Trump voiced his wish for detente with Russia and since has sought collusion over a ceasefire in Syria and wider matters — yet is reported to be intending to sign off tougher sanctions over Russia’s annexation of Crimea and the claimed election meddling.