Putin: 755 American diplomats must leave Russia
Russian President Vladimir Putin announced that the staff of the U.S. diplomatic mission in Russia will be reduced by 755 people.
The personnel of the American diplomatic mission in Russia will be reduced by 755 people. Thereafter, the number will be the same as the Russian diplomatic mission in America – 455 people. Putin said this in an interview, the text of which was published on the website Vesti.ru.
“As for other possible measures, or whether there are many or few, the diplomatic department considers it quite a sensitive matter. Because more than a thousand employees – diplomats and technical workers – have worked and are still working in Russia, 755 will have to cease their activities in the Russian Federation. It's sensitive,” he added.
“The question is whether or not we need to do [something] more and within what framework. We have a small volume of trade and economic ties with the United States. It certainly does not compare with the volume of trade relations, say, with China, with the countries of the European Union, or with many other countries of the world. There are many possibilities, and due to various circumstances, the scope is small,” the president said.
On Friday, Moscow imposed restrictions on U.S. diplomats after the U.S. Congress passed a bill on new anti-Russian sanctions. The bill is still waiting for the president's signature, but the White House has already said that Donald Trump intends to approve it.
The Russian Foreign Ministry stated that these actions confirm the “extreme aggressiveness” of the United States in international affairs.
In addition to reducing the staff of the diplomatic missions, beginning in August, the U.S. embassy will not be able to use the summer house in Serebryany Bor and warehouses on Dorognaya Street in Moscow.