Russia Hits Back, Will Expel 60 American Diplomats

Russia is expelling 60 U.S. diplomats and ordering the closure of the American consulate in St. Petersburg, mirroring the expulsion of Russian diplomats by the U.S., Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said.

Lavrov announced the retaliatory measures to reporters in Moscow on Thursday. In addition, he signaled a similar response to European countries that are kicking out Russian diplomats over a nerve-agent attack in England.

“As far as the other countries go, it will all be mirrored in terms of the numbers of people who will leave the Russian Federation from the diplomatic missions’ staff,” Lavrov said.