Russian Foreign Ministry announced the expulsion of American diplomats and delivered an ultimatum to the United States

Those employees of the embassy in Moscow who have been on a business trip for more than three years must leave the territory of the Russian Federation.

–

Russia is responding in a mirror-like manner to US actions and is expelling US embassy staff by January 31st. About it warned representative of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation Maria Zakharova.

According to her, Russia perceives the decision to end the period of stay of 54 Russian diplomats on American territory as “expulsion.”

During the briefing, Maria Zakharova warned that some of the employees of the US Embassy must leave Russia by January 31st.

“By January 31, 2022, employees of the US Embassy in Moscow, who have been on a business trip for more than three years, should leave Russia,” the diplomat continued and said that American colleagues imposed this “game.”

Moreover, Maria Zakharova delivered an ultimatum to the United States at a briefing – if Washington does not make concessions to the Kremlin by July 1, 2022, another part of American diplomats will leave the territory of Russia.

“In total, commensurate with the number of Russians being expelled announced by the State Department,” the Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman concluded.

Representative of the US State Department Jalina Porter, commenting on the criticism of the Russian Federation, statedthat the departure of Russian diplomats from the United States does not amount to expulsion or “punitive measures.” According to her, when making such decisions, Washington is guided by requirements similar to those of Russia.

Jalina Porter noted that Russia was informed in advance about the decision to end the term of stay of diplomats in the United States.

As you know, in October, the United States informed Russia that more than 50 Russian diplomats were to leave American territory in 2022. 27 embassy employees will return to Russia by January 30, six months later – the same number of diplomats will leave the United States.

It was previously reported that NATO halved Russian diplomatic mission up to 10 people. By the decision of the Alliance, eight employees of the embassy were to leave Brussels by mid-November.

The reduction of the Russian diplomatic mission to NATO was explained by the fact that some of the diplomats did not work under accreditation… Alliance Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg also said that the departure of the employees is associated with “the growth of enemy activity of the Russian Federation.”

– .