Russian President announces expulsion of 755 US diplomats

​Russia announced the expulsion of 755 US diplomats in retaliation for new sanctions against Russia recently passed by both houses of the US Congress.

Russian President Vladimir Putin. Photo: Reuters

According to the Independent newspaper (UK), this move will create a new crisis in diplomatic relations between the two countries.

Days after both houses of the US Congress voted almost unanimously in favor of new sanctions against Moscow, Russian President Vladimir Putin said he would respond to Washington's "illegal" behavior.

Speaking on the Rossiya 1 television channel on July 30, Mr. Putin said: “The US side has taken steps, which, importantly, do not stem from any cause, to worsen the Russia-US relations. It includes illegal bans, plots to influence other countries in the world, including our allies, countries that wish to develop and maintain relations with Russia.”

“We have been waiting for a long time for something better to happen, we have hoped that the situation will change. But it seems that it will not change in the near future… I decided that it was time for us to show that we will not let things go unanswered.”

US sanctions on Russia include measures against Iran and North Korea, and are also related to Russia's 2014 annexation of Crimea and allegations of interference in the 2016 US election.

The approval of a new bill to sanction Russia by both houses of the US Congress has put President Donald Trump in a difficult position. The White House has made it clear that it will oppose this measure, but Mr. Trump has also said that he will sign the bill rather than use his veto to reject it.

On Friday (July 28), Russia also warned of its intention to expel diplomats and take back two compounds used by US diplomats.

However, President Putin's July 30 statements were the first time he gave exact figures on the US diplomats he planned to expel.

An official at the US Embassy in Moscow said there are currently about 1,100 diplomats and support staff in Russia, including both US and Russian citizens.

According to Tuoi Tre