Russian President Vladimir Putin has threatened to expel up to 155 more US diplomatic personnel from his country. At a press conference after a summit of BRICS nations in Xiamen, Mr. Putin said, Russia reserves the right to make a decision on how many American diplomats there are in Moscow. However, he said, Moscow will not do that for the moment.
Moscow had previously ordered the US to reduce its diplomatic presence to 455 people by September 1, the same number that Russia has in the US. On Saturday, Russia was forced to vacate its consulate in San Francisco and two diplomatic buildings in New York and Washington after the US ordered the move, the latest twist in a lengthy feud.
Russia demanded on Sunday that the US rethink its shuttering of Moscow’s diplomatic premises, insisting that Washington bore sole responsibility for worsening ties after the hostile act.