US Envoy To Russia: ‘No Justification’ For Russia To Expel 60 Diplomats

ST PETERSBURG, RUSSIA - MARCH 29, 2018: Outside the US Consulate General at Furstatskaya Street in St Petersburg. Peter Kovalev/TASS (Photo by Peter KovalevTASS via Getty Images)
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MOSCOW (AP) — The United States says there’s “no justification” for Russia’s retaliatory moves to expel 60 U.S. diplomats and shutter the American Consulate in St. Petersburg.

U.S. Ambassador to Russia Jon Huntsman says in a statement that it shows Moscow isn’t interested in dialogue with the United States about important matters. The comments come after Huntsman was summoned late Thursday by Russia’s government and given a list of diplomats who must leave within 48 hours.

U.S. State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert says that “Russia should not be acting like a victim.” She calls Russia’s actions “regrettable” and “unwarranted.”

She says the U.S. reserves the right to respond to Russia’s response.

Russia kicked out the diplomats after the U.S. and other nations kicked out Russian diplomats to punish Moscow for alleged involvement in an ex-spy’s poisoning in the U.K.

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Notable Replies

  1. Vlad wanted Trump elected. Trump constantly crows getting along with Russia will be ultimately beneficial. Yet in some sort of jiu-jitsu gone horribly wrong for both of them relations are at their lowest ebb in years.

    Be careful what you wish for.

  2. They’re trying to scare us into it.

  3. Expulsions like these are unhelpful to the bilateral relationship and make it more difficult for Donald Trump to remove sanctions and fulfill the mission for which Vladimir Putin installed him as President.

  4. “She says the U.S. reserves the right to respond to Russia’s response.”

    And if Russia responds to the US response to Russia’s response to the US response to Russia’s response…

    Trump will apologize to Putin.

  5. When does Donnie Dotard start his Russian apology tour?

Continue the discussion at forums.talkingpointsmemo.com

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