“On March 23, a list of US diplomats declared persona non grata was handed over to the head of the US diplomatic mission. [en Moscú]which was summoned to the Russian Foreign Ministry,” said a statement from the Russian Foreign Ministry.
President Joe Biden and Vladimír Putin. Photo: Courtesy
Russia announced on Wednesday the expulsion of US diplomats, in retaliation for similar measures taken by Washington against twelve members of the Russian mission to the UN in early March.
“On March 23, a list of US diplomats declared persona non grata was handed over to the head of the US diplomatic mission. [en Moscú]which was summoned to the Russian Foreign Ministry,” said a statement from the Russian Foreign Ministry.
“The US side has received firm notice that any US hostile action against Russia will receive a resolute and appropriate response,” he added.
A State Department spokesman confirmed that the US portfolio had received the list from Moscow.
“This is Russia’s last useless and unproductive step in our bilateral relationship. We call on the Russian government to end these unjustified expulsions,” the spokesman said.
At the beginning of the month, Washington reported the beginning “of the expulsion process of twelve intelligence agents from the Russian Mission who have abused their residency privileges by participating in espionage activities adverse to our national security.”
The Russian ambassador to the United States, Anatoli Antonov, denounced a “hostile” attitude.
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