Putin, to his credit, seems to understand that retaliation will get him nowhere. 

He can deny all he wants but unless he can convince America that Russia did not interfere in the recent election his denials and retaliations are to no avail. The American public is just waking up to the notion that the Russians interfered with the election. Things can only get worse if Putin throws gasoline on the fire.

Americans may be stupid but they are not that stupid as to be duped for long. Eventually they figure things out.

Russia was stupid to think it would not be found out or that there were no consequences if it was.