Ministry stated the United States Embassy was asked to decrease its diplomatic and technical staff in Russia to 455 by Sept. 1, matching the variety of Russian diplomats in the United States.In addition to the primary Embassy in Moscow, the United States maintains consulates in St. Petersburg, Yekaterinburg and Vladivostok.It was not right away clear the number of American employees would need to leave, since who was included in the Russian count was not pointed out in the statement.
There are hundreds of staff members here, consisting of workers building an embassy structure in Moscow.Starting on Aug. 1, Russia will also block access to a warehouse in Moscow, along with to an agrarian enclave along the Moscow River where employee stroll their pets and hold barbecues.In December, President Barack Obama expelled 35 Russian diplomats and seized two estates, one on Long Island and one on Chesapeake Bay in Maryland, in response to Russia meddling in the United States governmental election.Russia did not react at that time, with President Vladimir V. Putin signaling that he was hoping for much better relations under President Trump. Those hopes have actually largely vaporized. On Thursday, Mr. Putin stated at a news conference in Finland that he would wait to see the last law before any Russian action. the Senate vote apparently tipped the balance.The statement from the Foreign Ministry stated that if the United States responded to this most current step with any additional expulsions,< a href ="https://www.nytimes.com/2017/07/26/world/europe/us-sanctions-russia.html"> Russia would match them. Continue checking out the main story