President Trump has reportedly ordered the expulsion of 60 Russians from the United States on Monday, including 12 people identified as Russian intelligence officers who have been stationed at the United Nations in New York, in response to Russia’s alleged poisoning of a former Russian spy in Britain.
As The New York Times reports, the expulsion order, announced by administration officials, also closes the Russian consulate in Seattle.
The Russians and their families have seven days to leave the United States, according to officials.
The expulsions are the toughest action taken against the Kremlin by President Trump, who has been criticized for not being firm enough with President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia.
In a call with reporters, senior White House officials said that the move was to root out Russians actively engaging in intelligence operations against the country, and to show that the United States would stand with NATO allies.
The officials said that the closure of the consulate in Seattle was ordered because of its proximity to a U.S. naval base.
Worst. Putin Puppet. Ever.
The expulsion of 60 diplomats is the most sweeping since the Reagan administration ordered 55 diplomats out of the country in 1986.
As The Washington Post reports, a senior administration official, who was only authorized to discuss the actions on the condition of anonymity, commented:
“This was a reckless attempt by the government to murder a British citizens and his daughter on British soil with a nerve agent,”
“It cannot go unanswered.”
The actions, which could prompt retaliatory strikes against U.S. diplomats in Russia, come in contrast to President Trump’s efforts to foster a warm relationship with Russian President Vladimir Putin. In a phone call to Putin last week, Trump rejected the counsel of his national security advisers and congratulated Putin on his reelection victory.
Deep State 1 – 0 Trump.
“To the Russian government, we say, when you attack our friend you will face serious consequences,” said a senior administration official.
“As we have continually stressed to Moscow, the door to dialogue is open.” But, this official continued, Russia must “cease its recklessly aggressive behavior.”
So far today, the number of Russian diplomats being expelled:
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US – 60
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France – 4
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Germany – 4
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Poland – 4
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Latvia – 1
And follows Britain’s expulsion of 23 Russian diplomats last week.
This follows Bloomberg’s reports that at least 10 European nations are taking action. Meanwhile President Donald Trump is preparing to kick out dozens of Russian diplomats. Russia is poised to respond in kind.
Last week EU leaders declared in a statement that it was “highly likely” there was “no plausible alternative explanation” other than Russia being to blame. We are following developments here. The timestamps are in Brussels time.
Germany Expels 4 Russian Diplomats: Suddeutsche
Germany plans to expel four Russian diplomats in response to an alleged chemical-agent attack in the U.K., Sueddeutsche Zeitung reported. The four are officials with intelligence backgrounds to be expelled out of solidarity with U.K. as well as for lack of cooperation from Russian authorities, Sueddeutsche says, without saying where it obtained the information.
Getting close to announcements, as Tusk Tweets
Tune in: “At 15:00 (Brussels time) Statement by President Tusk on EU member states coordinated response to the Salisbury attack.” This came through by text message from the EU.
News conferences are being organized at the same time in different countries, such as the Czech Republic.
Russia Says EU Shows ‘Perverted’ U.K. Solidarity
The Kremlin is not impressed with the EU. The countries planning to expel Russian diplomats in support of the U.K. are “like loyal subjects giving political support to London,” Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said on Facebook.
Bild Says Germany Looking at Expulsions
Germany is considering expulsion of Russian diplomats, Bild newspaper reported, citing an unidentified German official: “There are plans to expel Russian diplomats from Germany. But this should be a joint decision among a number of EU member states.”
Russia to Face Penalties From At Least 10 Countries
As many as 10 European Union countries will take a coordinated action in response to Russia’s chemical attack in the U.K. earlier this month, according to two people with knowledge of the decision.
*A detailed announcement will be made at 3 p.m., according to the two people, who asked not to be identified discussing private decisions
Russia Warns of Tit-for-Tat Retaliation
Russia warned that it won’t take any expulsions lying down. The Kremlin hasn’t had any official information on reported U.S. plans to expel diplomats and will act reciprocally if such actions take place, Vladimir Putin’s spokesman told reporters on a conference call.
Germany Says Wait on Russia Response
Chancellor Angela Merkel’s chief spokesman, Steffen Seibert, to reporters in Berlin on Russia measures: “We’ll report to you when there’s something to report.”
Poland, Baltic Countries to Hold News Conferences
Poland’s security agency detained a man working at the country’s energy ministry suspected of spying for Russia. Russia’s ambassador has been summoned to the foreign ministry in Warsaw for talks and Poland’s Foreign Minister Jacek Czaputowicz is due to hold a news conference at 3 p.m. in Warsaw.
Baltic countries will hold their own press conference at 4:10 p.m. local time to announce their reaction to the chemical weapons attack in the U.K., the Latvian foreign ministry said on Twitter.
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