EU states, US, Canada, Ukraine expel Russian diplomats

MOSCOW, Mar 26 (PRIME) -- Fourteen countries of the E.U., the U.S., Canada and Ukraine expelled Russian diplomats after poisoning of former Russian spy Sergei Skripal in the U.K., according to the statements made by the governments on Monday.

A White House official said that Washington is going to expel 48 employees of the diplomatic mission and 12 more employees of the U.N. mission. The U.S. will also shut down Russia’s consulate general in Seattle. According to the official, the U.S. can adopt more measures if Russia retaliates these moves.

The Russian–U.K. relations became tense after poisoning of Skripal and his daughter Yulia in Salisbury on March 4. U.K. Prime Minister Theresa May expelled 23 Russian diplomats and announced a freeze of all bilateral contacts on the level of high-ranking officials.

End