USA diplomats must leave Russia: Putin

Bangor Daily News
Russia retaliates to US sanctions, says will seize diplomatic property
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31 July, 2017

The bill gives Congress the ability to block Trump from lifting the Russian Federation sanctions and also includes new penalties against Iran and North Korea.

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Sunday confirmed that US diplomatic missions in Russia will be cut by 755 people, following a sanctions bill the US Congress passed last week. It is aimed at punishing Moscow for interfering in the 2016 USA presidential election and for its military aggression in Ukraine and Syria, where the Kremlin has backed President Bashar Assad. They spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss internal White House deliberations.

Along with the cap on the size of the US diplomatic corps in Russia, the Russian foreign ministry on Friday said it also was closing down a usa recreational retreat on the outskirts of Moscow as well as warehouse facilities. The White House had made clear it was against the measure, but the President has said he will sign the bill, rather than use his veto power and risk fresh accusations that he is soft on Moscow.

The ministry says the US has until September 1 to cut the number of its staff at the Moscow embassy and at three consulates to match the exact number of Russian diplomats who are working in the USA - 455 people, according to the ministry's announcement. He will be under pressure to sign it after weeks of intense negotiations.

But Sen. Bob Corker, R-Tenn., said that would be a serious mistake and called Scaramucci's remark an "off-handed comment".

"I can not imagine anybody is seriously thinking about vetoing this bill", said Corker, chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. It shows a diminishment of their authority.

Trump's desire, often expressed during the 2016 presidential campaign, to improve relations has been hamstrung by findings from USA intelligence agencies that Russian Federation interfered to help the Republican against Democrat Hillary Clinton.

"I don't think they are going to walk away from that just yet", said McFaul.

Trump has denied any collusion between his associates and Moscow and termed the Russian investigation "a witch hunt". Another, all but inconceivable, item would be formal US recognition Russia's claim to Crimea.

US Ambassador to Russia John Tefft has expressed his "strong disappointment and protest" over Moscow's decision to expel the US diplomats, according to a statement to CNN from the US Embassy in Moscow.

"There is currently 600-700 [personnel] now, and the cut will be very painful to them", the source said, pointing out that the reduction would affect 200-300 United States staff members. The bill prohibits ships owned by North Korea or by countries that refuse to comply with United Nations resolutions against it from operating in American waters or docking at US ports.

Sens. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., and Rand Paul, R-Ky., voted against the sanctions bill.


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