Just days after Donald Trump angered US lawmakers by congratulating Vladimir Putin on his re-election as Russian president, his administration expelled 60 Russian diplomats in the biggest expulsion of Russian intelligence officers since the cold war.

The move, which the White House said was ordered by Mr Trump, was greeted with bipartisan approval and hailed as a significant toughening of policy. But some foreign policy experts and lawmakers said the expulsions did not amount to a game-changing move and instead highlighted the US president’s hot-cold approach towards Russia.

“The Trump administration made the right decision today to join our British and other allies in showing the Kremlin there will be consequences for their malign, destabilising activities?.?.?.” said Ben Cardin, a Democrat on the Senate foreign relations committee.