Lavrov: expulsion of American diplomats from Russia is a response to US’s hostile actions
The decision to equalize the number of employees at the US and Russian diplomatic missions was triggered by a series of hostile moves by Washington, stated Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov in a telephone conversation with US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, the Press Service of the Russian Foreign Ministry reported.
"Lavrov stressed that the decision to equalize the number of employees of US and Russian diplomatic missions, as well as to close access to two US Embassy facilities, was triggered by a series of hostile moves by Washington. Such actions included unlawful sanctions against Russia, slanderous accusations against it, the mass expulsion of diplomats, and the expropriation of our diplomatic property," the Russian diplomatic mission said in the statement.
In addition, the Russian Foreign Minister said that Russia "did everything possible to rectify the relationship, and behaved discreetly in response to American provocations.”
"The limited and absolutely adequate measures we have taken are not an answer on the principle of an eye for an eye, but a forced step that completely fits into international practice and is aimed at protecting legitimate Russian interests in the hope that the American side will finally think about the pernicious consequences of its line," the press service added.
Lavrov also confirmed that Russia "is still ready to normalize bilateral relations with the US and cooperate on the most important issues on the international agenda; however, this is possible only on the basis of equality, mutual respect and a balance of interests."
The foreign ministers agreed to continue to engage on all issues of Russian-American relations, the Russian Foreign Ministry reported.
Earlier, the Russian Foreign Ministry ordered the US to reduce the total number of its embassy staff in Russia. Such measures are related to the decision taken in late 2016 by the US authorities to expel 35 Russian diplomats from the country and to seize diplomatic dachas in the states of Maryland and New York, as well as the adoption of a new "sanctions" law by Congress.