US to expel 60 Russians over Skripal attack as EU members follow suit

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Europe

US President Donald Trump on Monday announced the US would expel 60 Russian diplomats and intelligence officials, and ordered the shutdown of the Russian consulate in Seattle over the nerve agent attack on former Russian spy Sergei Skripal in the UK.

EU member countries

A total of 14 EU member states have decided to expel Russian diplomats on Monday, said EU chief Donald Tusk, adding that more measures are not "excluded" in the coming days.

The German Foreign Ministry said it has expelled four Russian diplomats, calling the move an act of solidarity with Britain.

Polish Foreign Minister Jacek Czaputowicz tells a news conference that the diplomats must leave the country by April 3, 2018. /CGTN Photo

Meanwhile, Poland and France have also announced they will expel four Russian diplomats respectively in response to the attack. Lithuania and the Czech Republic said they would each expel three Russian diplomats.

As part of a coordinated response by UK’s allies in Europe and the US, Denmark, Italy and the Netherlands also announced the expulsion of two Russian diplomats severally.

Six EU states, including Latvia, Estonia, Finland, Romania, Croatia and Sweden, said they would expel one Russian diplomat respectively.

Outside EU

Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko said in a statement that the country will expel 13 Russian diplomats, adding that the decision was taken "in the spirit of solidarity with their British partners and transatlantic allies and in coordination with EU countries."

Canada ousted four Russian envoys, calling the nerve agent attack a "despicable, heinous and reckless act."

Iceland has also decided to take measures against Russia.

"Among the measures taken by Iceland is the temporary postponement of all high-level bilateral dialogue with Russian authorities. Consequently, Icelandic leaders will not attend the FIFA World Cup in Russia this summer," the Icelandic Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

Police officers prepare equipment as inspectors from the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) begin work at the scene of the nerve agent attack on former Russian agent Sergei Skripal, in Salisbury, Britain, March 21, 2018. /VCG Photo‍

Russian response

Russian Foreign Ministry said it "strongly protests" diplomats' expulsion by the US and other countries, vowing to retaliate.

Previously, RIA cited a Russian official that Moscow will expel at least 60 US diplomatic missions in Russia in response to Washington’s decision.

However, Russia regrets the decision by Western governments and the final response to the expulsions will be made by President Vladimir Putin, said Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov, adding that Moscow's response will be based on the principle of reciprocity.