Russian President Vladimir Putin today said he will not expel 35 U.S. diplomats, rejecting his own foreign minister’s recommendation to do so in response to U.S. sanctions.
Putin said he views the latest moves by the outgoing Obama administration as a provocation aimed at further undermining U.S.-Russia relations.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov had proposed earlier today in televised remarks that Putin expel the U.S. diplomats: 31 from the U.S. Embassy in Moscow and four from the U.S. Consulate in St. Petersburg. Lavrov had also discussed a proposal to ban U.S. diplomats from using their summer retreat outside of Moscow.
"Of course, we cannot leave these sanctions unanswered," Lavrov said. "Reciprocity is the law of diplomacy and international relations. Therefore, the Russian foreign ministry, together with our colleagues from other departments, introduced a proposal to the president of Russia about declaring 31 employee of the US embassy in Moscow and 4 diplomats from the US consulate general in St. Petersburg persona non grata."
He added, "In addition, it is proposed to prohibit the Americans to use their dacha in Serebryany Bor and warehouse on Dorozhnaya street. We hope that these proposals will be considered at the very expeditious manner."
It is up to Putin to draft such retaliatory measures.
http://abcn.ws/2iwBcy4
Obama's response to Russia necessary given Trump's 'dismissive' behavior, former US ambassador says
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Putin said he views the latest moves by the outgoing Obama administration as a provocation aimed at further undermining U.S.-Russia relations.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov had proposed earlier today in televised remarks that Putin expel the U.S. diplomats: 31 from the U.S. Embassy in Moscow and four from the U.S. Consulate in St. Petersburg. Lavrov had also discussed a proposal to ban U.S. diplomats from using their summer retreat outside of Moscow.
"Of course, we cannot leave these sanctions unanswered," Lavrov said. "Reciprocity is the law of diplomacy and international relations. Therefore, the Russian foreign ministry, together with our colleagues from other departments, introduced a proposal to the president of Russia about declaring 31 employee of the US embassy in Moscow and 4 diplomats from the US consulate general in St. Petersburg persona non grata."
He added, "In addition, it is proposed to prohibit the Americans to use their dacha in Serebryany Bor and warehouse on Dorozhnaya street. We hope that these proposals will be considered at the very expeditious manner."
It is up to Putin to draft such retaliatory measures.
http://abcn.ws/2iwBcy4
Obama's response to Russia necessary given Trump's 'dismissive' behavior, former US ambassador says
Sent from my LG-D415 using Tapatalk
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