New York Times: Russia to Expel 60 U.S. Diplomats; Tensions Are Worst in Decades
LONDON — Russia will expel 60 American diplomats and probably dozens from other nations, the Kremlin said Thursday, intensifying its clash with Europe and the United States.
The action, which also includes closing the American consulate in St. Petersburg, retaliates for the expulsions of more than 150 Russian officials in other countries. Those expulsions were a response to a poison attack on British soil that Britain and its allies blamed on Moscow.
The United States ambassador to Russia, Jon M. Huntsman Jr., was summoned to the Foreign Ministry, the foreign minister, Sergey V. Lavrov, announced. Sixty American diplomats will be expelled from Russia — the same as the number of Russian diplomats whom Washington is expelling. The Americans were given until April 5 to leave.
In addition, Russia plans to expel an unspecified number of diplomats from the more than 20 other countries and NATO that joined Britain and the United States in expelling Russians. Mr. Lavrov said the number would “mirror” the number of expelled Russians, which suggested that the ultimate total could exceed 150. (Britain and Russia have already each expelled 23 of the other country’s representatives.)
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More News On Russia Expelling 60 U.S. Diplomats And Closing The American Consulate In St. Petersburg
The Latest: US: Russia has ‘no justification’ for expulsions -- AP
Russia orders out 60 U.S. diplomats over spy poisoning affair -- Reuters
Russia responds quid pro quo to diplomats’ expulsions -- AP
Spy poisoning: Russia expels US diplomats in tit-for-tat measure -- BBC
Russia announces tit-for-tat expulsions of Western diplomats, will close US consulate in St. Petersburg -- DW
Russia expels diplomats in tit-for-tat action over Salisbury attack -- The Guardian
Russia to expel 150 diplomats and close US consulate in St Petersburg over response to Salisbury spy poisoning -- The Independent
Russia Says It Will Expel 60 U.S. Diplomats in Retaliation for Trump’s Move -- Bloomberg
Moscow says it will close US consulate in St Petersburg and expel the same number of diplomats from nations that have expelled Russians -- Daily Mail
News From Russia
Russia to close US consulate in St. Petersburg, expel 60 diplomats as Washington did – Lavrov -- RT
Lavrov: Russia to Expel 60 US Diplomats, Close Consulate in St. Petersburg -- Sputnik
Russia to expel 60 US diplomats -- TASS
Moscow Gives 60 U.S. Diplomats a Week to Leave Russia -- Moscow Times
Moscow has no doubts UK, US synchronized steps against Russia -- TASS
US May Take Additional Actions in Response to Russia's Ouster of US Diplomats -- Sputnik
