Kremlin orders America to cut number of US diplomats in Russia in retaliation to sanctions
THE Kremlin today ordered America to cut the number of US diplomats in Russia.
The Kremlin today ordered America to cut the number of US diplomats in Russia
Moscow said some will be forced to leave the country within weeks in retaliation to new US sanctions against the country as tension continues to mount.
And it also suspended Washington from using two properties in the country.
American ioliticians approved fresh sanctions after intelligence chiefs said Russia tried to sway the election in favour of Donald Trump.
The Republican President objected to new restrictions.
In a statement, Russia’s foreign ministry said the move confirmed “the extreme aggression of the United States in international affairs”.
It added: “Hiding behind its exceptionalism, the United States arrogantly ignores the positions and interests of other countries.
“Under the absolutely invented pretext of Russian interference in its domestic affairs, the United States is aggressively pushing forward, one another another, crude anti-Russian actions.
Putin criticises 'anti-Russia hysteria' growing in the US
Moscow said some will be forced to leave the country within weeks in retaliation to new US sanctions
“This all runs counter to the principles of international law.”
The US arrogantly ignores the positions and interests of other countries
While it is unclear how diplomats will leave the country, Russia’s Interfax news agency quoted a Kremlin source saying: “We are talking not about dozens, but hundreds of diplomatic and technical staff who work for U.S diplomatic missions in Russia.”
The move, which affects the US Embassy in Moscow and consulates in St Petersburg, Yekaterinburg and Vladivostok, will cut the number of American staff in the country to 455 - the same number Russia has in the US.
President Trump objected to new restrictions
And US diplomats also suspended use of a US storage facility in Moscow and a country house used as a retreat outside the city.
Some of the staff are to leave in a month, Moscow said.
The American embassy said in a statement: “We have received the Russian government notification.
"Ambassador Tefft expressed his strong disappointment and protest. We have passed the notification back to Washington for review.”