Taking retaliation measures for the US decision to remove 12 of Russia’s diplomatic representatives to the New York-based UN, Moscow has informed on Wednesday it was expelling an unspecified number of US diplomats.
The head of the American diplomatic mission in Moscow, who was summoned to the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs on March 23, was handed a note with the list of the American diplomats declared persona non grata.
The Ministry’s statement also said that Americans have been given notice that any hostile action by Washington against Russia will be met with a resolute and appropriate response.
Moscow’s move is the latest blow to the fast-deteriorating ties between the US and Russia that have been increasingly stretched since the beginning of the Russian invasion of Ukraine on February 24.
Avoiding to specify how many people were affected or when they would have to leave, a State Department spokesperson pointed out that it’s Russia’s latest unhelpful and unproductive step in their bilateral relationship.
He stressed at the same time that at times like this, it’s critical that both countries have the necessary diplomatic personnel in place to facilitate communication between the governments
The United States expelled last month 12 members of the Russian diplomatic mission to the UN in New York over national security concerns and later announced it would oust an additional Russian at the UN who it said was a spy.
Olivia Dalton, the spokeswoman for the US mission to the UN, announced at the time that the US begin the process of expelling 12 Russian intelligence operatives who have engaged in espionage activities adverse to the US national security, hence abusing their privileges of residency in the US.
Washington’s move was strongly condemned by the Russian ambassador to the United States, Anatoli Antonov, who deemed it hostile, stressing it is a cause of deep disappointment and absolute rejection in Moscow.
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