Politics
14:12, 02-Aug-2017
US diplomats begin downsizing as Russia retaliates for sanctions
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US diplomatic staff in Russia started to move out of their facilities on Tuesday, the first sign of compliance with a Kremlin order to reduce its presence in the country, in retaliation for new, soon-to-be imposed sanctions by Washington.
It's part of an ongoing diplomatic tit for tat. In addition to forcing the diplomatic staff to move, Russia is placing two US properties off limits, all of it in response to a bill passed in the US Congress that includes more sanctions against Russia.
The US sanctions are meant to punish Russia for alleged interference in the US election. However, Russia denies involvement. President Donald Trump has yet to fully support findings from US intelligence that Russia was behind the interference.
As diplomatic tensions grow, the White House is dealing with more troubling questions about Trump and Russia.
The President has yet to sign the Russia sanctions bill into law but the White House says Trump will do that soon. The new measure requires Trump to get congressional approval before easing sanctions, making it more difficult for him to ease tensions with Russia.