Russian President Vladimir Putin has given 755 Americans in Russia to leave the country, in retaliation for new U.S. sanctions against Moscow.
The decision to expel staff was made on Friday, and Putin today, Sunday, confirmed the number of Americans who must go by 1 September.
It brings staff levels to 455, the same as Russia’s complement in Washington.
According to the BBC news, those that are expected to leave Moscow include Russian employees of the U.S. diplomatic missions across Russia.
It said that staff in the embassy in Moscow as well as the consulates in Ekaterinburg, Vladivostok and St. Petersburg are affected.
President Putin did strike a conciliatory note, saying he did not want to impose more measures, but also said he could not see ties changing “anytime soon.”
The Russian strong man said. In Russian television: “more than 1,000 people were working and are still working” at the U.S. embassy and consulates, and that “755 people must stop their activities in Russia.”
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