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| Trump expels 60 Russian diplomats from US and closes consulate in response to spy poisoning | Trump expels 60 Russian diplomats from US and closes consulate in response to spy poisoning |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| The Trump administration has ordered the expulsion of 60 Russian diplomats and closed Russia’s consulate in Seattle in response to the poisoning of a former spy in the UK – while Germany, Latvia, Lithuana and Poland have also expelled envoys from Moscow. | |
| In the sternest action yet against Russia since he became the president, Donald Trump’s White House said it working with Nato allies to punish Russia for it’s alleged poisoning of a former spy and his daughter in the UK and the ”unacceptably high” number of Russian spies in the US. | |
| “The United States takes this action in conjunction with our Nato allies and partners around the world in response to Russia’s use of a military-grade chemical weapon on the soil of the United Kingdom, the latest in its ongoing pattern of destabilising activities around the world,” the White House said in a statement. | |
| “Today’s actions make the United States safer by reducing Russia’s ability to spy on Americans and to conduct covert operations that threaten America’s national security. With these steps, the United States and our allies and partners make clear to Russia that its actions have consequences. | |
| It added: “The United States stands ready to cooperate to build a better relationship with Russia, but this can only happen with a change in the Russian government’s behaviour.” | |
| White House officials say the actions are also being taken to send a message about the “unacceptably high” number of Russian spies in the US. | |
| Mr Trump had been criticised over a recent telephone call with Vladimir Putin, during which he ignored advice from his officials and congratulated the Russian leader on his recent election victory. He also failed to raise with Russia’a alleged meddling in the 2016 election of the March 4 poisoning of ex-Russian spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter in the British city of Salisbury. | |
| British Prime Minister Theresa May previously told the UK parliament it was “highly likely” Russia was responsible for the poisoning of Mr Skripal and his daughter Yulia. The couple are said to be extremely ill and remain in a critical condition in hospital. | |
| According to Reuters, senior Trump administration officials said all 60 Russians were spies working in the US under diplomatic cover, including a dozen at Russia’s mission to the United Nations in New York. | |
| The expelled Russians will have seven days to leave the US, said the officials. They added that the Seattle consulate is a counter-intelligence concern because of its proximity to a US Navy base. | |
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| The US actions came as more than a dozen nations, including those in Russia’s neighbourhood, either announced, or were expected to announce similar steps. Poland summoned Russia’s ambassador for talks, and its foreign ministry was among several in Europe planning news conferences later Monday. | |
| Last week, EU chief Donald Tusk predicted that member states would introduce measures against Moscow over its suspected role in the spy poisoning case. | |
| Britain has already expelled 23 Russian diplomats, accusing them of being undeclared intelligence agents, which led Russia to expel the same number of British diplomats. The European Union has already recalled its ambassador to Russia. |