President Donald Trump ordered 60 Russian diplomats that the United States (US) considers spies to leave the country in response to the nerve-agent poisoning of a former Russian spy in the United Kingdom (UK) and closed Russia’s consulate in Seattle, senior administration officials said Monday as European allies prepared similar measures.
The expulsions are the most aggressive US move against Russia under Trump, who has sought a closer personal relationship with President Vladimir Putin while at the same time introducing new sanctions against people and entities with ties to the Kremlin.
The officials called the March 4 poisoning of Sergei Skripal and his daughter in Salisbury, England an attack on America’s closest ally and a reckless attempt to murder a British citizen on British soil. They said there are more than 100 Russian intelligence agents undercover as diplomats in the US and described the number as unacceptable.
The 60 people expelled from the US include 48 attached to the Russian embassy and 12 at the country’s mission to the United Nations. They have seven days to leave the country, the officials said.
At least 14 European Union countries are preparing to take coordinated actions with the US in response to the UK attack, two people with knowledge of the decision said. The countries were expected to include Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia and the Czech Republic.
Germany has expelled four Russian diplomats, and other nations are following in rapid succession.
While US policy toward Russia has grown more aggressive in recent months, some Trump critics say he’s been slow to respond to Putin’s provocations. Some have drawn a connection to special counsel Robert Mueller’s investigation of possible collusion between Trump’s 2016 campaign and the Russian government, as well as Trump’s past business relationships with Russian figures.
Trump faced criticism last week for calling Putin to congratulate him on his re-election, a vote observers said was marred by irregularities. After the call, Trump said he hoped to meet with Putin in the “not-too-distant future.”
UK and US have already expelled 23 diplomats each in tit-for-tat moves.
Here are the top 10 developments in the Russian diplomats' row:
1. What is the issue about? Retired military intelligence officer Skripal, 66, and his daughter, Yulia, 33, were found slumped on a bench in Salisbury city centre on March 4.
However, they remain in a critical but stable condition in hospital.
Skripal's poisoning, alleged to have employed the Soviet-era military-grade nerve agent Novichok, is the first known offensive use of a nerve toxin in Europe since World War Two.
2. US expels 60 Russian diplomats: US President Donald Trump ordered the expulsion of 60 Russian diplomats from the US on Monday, including 12 people identified as Russian intelligence officers who have been stationed at the UN in New York, in response to Russias alleged poisoning of a former Russian spy in Britain.
The Russian consulate in Seattle is also being closed as part of the US's package of punitive measures. A senior US official quoted by the Guardian said that the consulate closure and the expulsions would be carried out "in solidarity with our closest allies" in reaction to what he said was "a reckless attempt by the (Russian) government to murder a British citizen and his daughter with a military grade nerve agent."
A second official said the measures were also intended as a response to a "steady drumbeat of destabilising and aggressive actions" by Moscow against the US and its allies.
The expulsion order, announced by US administration, gives the Russians and their families seven days to leave the US.
The expulsions are the toughest action taken against the Kremlin by President Trump, who has been criticised for not being firm enough with President Vladimir Putin.
In a call with reporters, senior White House officials said that the move was to root out Russians actively engaging in intelligence operations against the country, and to show that the US would stand by NATO allies.
3. UK expels 23 Russian diplomats: The UK already expelled 23 Russian diplomats in response to the attack on Sergei Skripal and his daughter, which Prime Minister Theresa May’s government determined was perpetrated by Russia.
The Russian government has been notified about the expulsion of the diplomats and has given them a period of seven days to leave the United States.
4. Russia to respond soon: Putin’s government, in turn, ordered 23 British diplomats out of Russia over what it called “unsubstantiated accusations,” and the Kremlin on Monday said it would act reciprocally if Trump expels officials.
Russia will respond to the expulsion of Russian diplomats from European Union countries in kind and in the coming days, the RIA news agency reported on Monday, citing a foreign ministry source.
"The response will be symmetrical. We will work on it in the coming days and will respond to every country in turn," the source said, according to the agency.
5. Canada also denying 3 Russian applicants: After US, Canada says it is also denying three applicants from Russia for diplomatic staff, says “remain committed to dialogue and cooperation with Russia on issues where we face common challenges.”
"We are taking these measures in solidarity with the United Kingdom," Foreign Minister Chrystia Freeland said. "The nerve agent attack in Salisbury, on the soil of Canada's close partner and ally, is a despicable, heinous and reckless act, potentially endangering the lives of hundreds.”
6. Lithuania, Poland to expel Russian diplomats: The foreign ministers of Lithuania and Poland have said that they would expel Russian diplomats in solidarity with Britain over the poisoning of a former Russian spy in the English city of Salisbury.
"We handed a note to the ambassador that three Russian embassy officials are declared persona non grata for activities incompatible with their diplomatic status," Lithuanian Foreign Minister Linas Linkevicius told AFP.
Polish counterpart Jacek Czaputowicz, for his part, told reporters: "The four Russian diplomats have until midnight on April 3 to leave Poland."
Ukraine, which is not an EU member, is to expel 13 Russian diplomats.
7. Germany, France to expel Russian diplomats as well: While Romania will expel one Russian diplomat from Bucharest embassy over UK nerve agent attack, Germany has expelled four Russian diplomats
France has expelled four Russian diplomats other nations are following in rapid succession.
"In solidarity with our British partners, we have today notified the Russian authorities of our decision to expel four Russian personnel with diplomatic status from French territory within one week," said French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves le Drian.
8. Moscow on diplomat expulsions: Russia's Foreign Ministry said on Monday it would respond to the decision by a large number of Western states to expel Russian diplomats and it accused their governments of blindly following their British allies into confrontation with Moscow.
The ministry said in a statement that it viewed the expulsions, ordered in response to the poisoning of former Russian spy Sergei Skripal in the English city of Salisbury, as an unfriendly act and a provocative gesture.
Britain has blamed Russia for the poisoning of Skripal and his daughter Yulia, a charge Moscow denies.
9. ‘EU's expression of support for Britain was misguided’: Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova suggested that the EU's expression of support for Britain was misguided given that it would be leaving the bloc next year.
"Britain is leaving the European family. No one cancelled Brexit, and the divorce process is in full swing," Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova wrote on Facebook.
"Therefore a country which is leaving the European Union is exploiting the solidarity factor and is foisting on those countries that remain a worsening of relations with Russia."
10. Theresa May welcomes the support of other nations: British Prime Minister Theresa May welcomed the action of other countries to expel Russian diplomats after an attack on a former Russian spy in England, saying it sent a strong signal to Moscow that it cannot flout international law.
"We welcome today's actions by our allies, which clearly demonstrate that we all stand shoulder to shoulder in sending the strongest signal to Russia that it cannot continue to flout international law," a statement from May's office said.
Here is the complete list of Russian diplomats being expelled from different countries:
US: 60 diplomats
Ukraine: 13
Poland: 4
France: 4
Germany: 4
Canada: 4
Czech Republic: 3
Lithuania: 3
Netherlands: 2
Italy: 2
Denmark: 2
Estonia: 1
Latvia: 1
Croatia: 1
Finland: 1
Romania: 1
The expulsions are the most aggressive US move against Russia under Trump, who has sought a closer personal relationship with President Vladimir Putin while at the same time introducing new sanctions against people and entities with ties to the Kremlin.
The officials called the March 4 poisoning of Sergei Skripal and his daughter in Salisbury, England an attack on America’s closest ally and a reckless attempt to murder a British citizen on British soil. They said there are more than 100 Russian intelligence agents undercover as diplomats in the US and described the number as unacceptable.
The 60 people expelled from the US include 48 attached to the Russian embassy and 12 at the country’s mission to the United Nations. They have seven days to leave the country, the officials said.
At least 14 European Union countries are preparing to take coordinated actions with the US in response to the UK attack, two people with knowledge of the decision said. The countries were expected to include Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia and the Czech Republic.
Germany has expelled four Russian diplomats, and other nations are following in rapid succession.
While US policy toward Russia has grown more aggressive in recent months, some Trump critics say he’s been slow to respond to Putin’s provocations. Some have drawn a connection to special counsel Robert Mueller’s investigation of possible collusion between Trump’s 2016 campaign and the Russian government, as well as Trump’s past business relationships with Russian figures.
Trump faced criticism last week for calling Putin to congratulate him on his re-election, a vote observers said was marred by irregularities. After the call, Trump said he hoped to meet with Putin in the “not-too-distant future.”
UK and US have already expelled 23 diplomats each in tit-for-tat moves.
Here are the top 10 developments in the Russian diplomats' row:
1. What is the issue about? Retired military intelligence officer Skripal, 66, and his daughter, Yulia, 33, were found slumped on a bench in Salisbury city centre on March 4.
However, they remain in a critical but stable condition in hospital.
Skripal's poisoning, alleged to have employed the Soviet-era military-grade nerve agent Novichok, is the first known offensive use of a nerve toxin in Europe since World War Two.
2. US expels 60 Russian diplomats: US President Donald Trump ordered the expulsion of 60 Russian diplomats from the US on Monday, including 12 people identified as Russian intelligence officers who have been stationed at the UN in New York, in response to Russias alleged poisoning of a former Russian spy in Britain.
The Russian consulate in Seattle is also being closed as part of the US's package of punitive measures. A senior US official quoted by the Guardian said that the consulate closure and the expulsions would be carried out "in solidarity with our closest allies" in reaction to what he said was "a reckless attempt by the (Russian) government to murder a British citizen and his daughter with a military grade nerve agent."
A second official said the measures were also intended as a response to a "steady drumbeat of destabilising and aggressive actions" by Moscow against the US and its allies.
The expulsion order, announced by US administration, gives the Russians and their families seven days to leave the US.
The expulsions are the toughest action taken against the Kremlin by President Trump, who has been criticised for not being firm enough with President Vladimir Putin.
In a call with reporters, senior White House officials said that the move was to root out Russians actively engaging in intelligence operations against the country, and to show that the US would stand by NATO allies.
3. UK expels 23 Russian diplomats: The UK already expelled 23 Russian diplomats in response to the attack on Sergei Skripal and his daughter, which Prime Minister Theresa May’s government determined was perpetrated by Russia.
The Russian government has been notified about the expulsion of the diplomats and has given them a period of seven days to leave the United States.
4. Russia to respond soon: Putin’s government, in turn, ordered 23 British diplomats out of Russia over what it called “unsubstantiated accusations,” and the Kremlin on Monday said it would act reciprocally if Trump expels officials.
Russia will respond to the expulsion of Russian diplomats from European Union countries in kind and in the coming days, the RIA news agency reported on Monday, citing a foreign ministry source.
"The response will be symmetrical. We will work on it in the coming days and will respond to every country in turn," the source said, according to the agency.
5. Canada also denying 3 Russian applicants: After US, Canada says it is also denying three applicants from Russia for diplomatic staff, says “remain committed to dialogue and cooperation with Russia on issues where we face common challenges.”
"We are taking these measures in solidarity with the United Kingdom," Foreign Minister Chrystia Freeland said. "The nerve agent attack in Salisbury, on the soil of Canada's close partner and ally, is a despicable, heinous and reckless act, potentially endangering the lives of hundreds.”
6. Lithuania, Poland to expel Russian diplomats: The foreign ministers of Lithuania and Poland have said that they would expel Russian diplomats in solidarity with Britain over the poisoning of a former Russian spy in the English city of Salisbury.
"We handed a note to the ambassador that three Russian embassy officials are declared persona non grata for activities incompatible with their diplomatic status," Lithuanian Foreign Minister Linas Linkevicius told AFP.
Polish counterpart Jacek Czaputowicz, for his part, told reporters: "The four Russian diplomats have until midnight on April 3 to leave Poland."
Ukraine, which is not an EU member, is to expel 13 Russian diplomats.
7. Germany, France to expel Russian diplomats as well: While Romania will expel one Russian diplomat from Bucharest embassy over UK nerve agent attack, Germany has expelled four Russian diplomats
France has expelled four Russian diplomats other nations are following in rapid succession.
"In solidarity with our British partners, we have today notified the Russian authorities of our decision to expel four Russian personnel with diplomatic status from French territory within one week," said French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves le Drian.
8. Moscow on diplomat expulsions: Russia's Foreign Ministry said on Monday it would respond to the decision by a large number of Western states to expel Russian diplomats and it accused their governments of blindly following their British allies into confrontation with Moscow.
The ministry said in a statement that it viewed the expulsions, ordered in response to the poisoning of former Russian spy Sergei Skripal in the English city of Salisbury, as an unfriendly act and a provocative gesture.
Britain has blamed Russia for the poisoning of Skripal and his daughter Yulia, a charge Moscow denies.
9. ‘EU's expression of support for Britain was misguided’: Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova suggested that the EU's expression of support for Britain was misguided given that it would be leaving the bloc next year.
"Britain is leaving the European family. No one cancelled Brexit, and the divorce process is in full swing," Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova wrote on Facebook.
"Therefore a country which is leaving the European Union is exploiting the solidarity factor and is foisting on those countries that remain a worsening of relations with Russia."
10. Theresa May welcomes the support of other nations: British Prime Minister Theresa May welcomed the action of other countries to expel Russian diplomats after an attack on a former Russian spy in England, saying it sent a strong signal to Moscow that it cannot flout international law.
"We welcome today's actions by our allies, which clearly demonstrate that we all stand shoulder to shoulder in sending the strongest signal to Russia that it cannot continue to flout international law," a statement from May's office said.
Here is the complete list of Russian diplomats being expelled from different countries:
US: 60 diplomats
Ukraine: 13
Poland: 4
France: 4
Germany: 4
Canada: 4
Czech Republic: 3
Lithuania: 3
Netherlands: 2
Italy: 2
Denmark: 2
Estonia: 1
Latvia: 1
Croatia: 1
Finland: 1
Romania: 1
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