Russian Diplomat Expulsions: Moscow vows retaliation in response to expulsions by the West
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Russia's Foreign Ministry says the US and Europe are on a course towards confrontation with Moscow. The countries have determined Russia played a part in the poisoning of the former Russian spy on UK soil. However, the Kremlin denies any involvement - and says the expulsions won't go unanswered. Dan Ashby has more.
As President Putin met with the Emir of Qatar to improve relations, he was about to be presented with his biggest diplomatic crisis yet.
Dozens of Russian diplomats expelled from the US and EU, in response to the poisoning of the former Russian intelligence officer Sergei Skripal and his daughter on British soil - an attack Moscow says it knew nothing about. The US administration alone is kicking out 60.
ANATOLY ANTONOV RUSSIAN AMBASSADOR TO UNITED STATES "What the United States of America is doing today - they are destroying what little remained of U.S.-Russian ties. I would add that all the responsibility for ruining Russian-American relations is on the United States of America."
Russia's Foreign Ministry says that the US and EU is on a course towards confrontation. And the President's spokesman hinted at reciprocal measures to come.
VOICE OF DMITRI PESKOV KREMLIN PRESS SECRETARY "The main analysis will be conducted in our foreign ministry. And after the president will be presented with suggestions on retaliatory steps. The final decision will be made by the head of the Russian state."
After his expected landslide win of a fourth term, President Putin said he wanted to improve relations with countries. But now his government is deciding how best to retaliate.
DAN ASHBY MOSCOW "This is the kind of escalation that Moscow did not want to happen. What was a fall-out with the UK, is now a diplomatic crisis with the US, Canada and countries across Europe. This year was supposed to be Russia's chance to reach out to the world through the World Cup. Instead, when it comes to the West - it is becoming ever more isolated. Dan Ashby, CGTN, Moscow."