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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 14 EU countries including 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. | 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 European Council president Donald Tusk meanwhile said the bloc’s expulsions were a “direct follow-up to last week’s European Council decision” in which it “condemned, in the strongest possible terms, the recent attack on Salisbury”. | |
| The White House said in a statement: “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. | |
| “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. | “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.” | 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. | 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. | 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. | 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. | 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. | 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. | 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. |
| In a “special announcement” to reporters on Monday afternoon European Council president Mr Tusk confirmed that 14 different EU countries were taking “common” measures to expel Russian diplomats. | |
| Ukraine, which is not a member of the EU, also separately announced it would kick out 13 diplomats. | |
| Mr Tusk said more measures – including further expulsions – could follow in the coming days and weeks. He reiterated that the “European Council agreed with the United Kingdom government’s assessment that it is highly likely that the Russian federation is responsible and that there is no plausible alternative explanation”. | |
| Germany, France and Poland, Lithuania, Italy, the Netherlands, Denmark, and the Czech Republic are among EU member states expelling officials. | |
| “We decided to recall the EU ambassador to Russia for consultations. As a direct follow-up to last week’s European Council decision to react to Russia within a common framework, already today 14 member states have decided to expel Russian diplomats,” Mr Tusk said. | |
| “Additional measures including further expulsions within the common EU framework are not to be excluded in the coming days and weeks.” | |
| During the announcement Mr Tusk also paid tribute to the victims of a shopping fire in Russia’s Western Siberia region, which has claimed at least 37 lives. | |
| “We remain critical of the actions of the Russian government, but at the same time today we Europeans today with the Russian people mourn the victims of the tragic fire in the city of Kemerovo in Western Siberia. Our thoughts and hearts are with you,” he said. | |
| 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. | 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. |