US President Donald Trump has ordered the expulsion of 60 Russian intelligence and diplomatic officers, as well as the closure of the Russian consulate in Seattle.
The country thus joins the UK and the EU in sanctioning Russia for the country’s alleged attempt to murder a former spy who lived in the UK, Sergei Skripal, using a nerve agent identified by experts as being of Russian origin.
After having expelled 23 Russian diplomats from its territory, the UK last week also recalled its ambassador from Moscow.
Germany, France and Ukraine have also announced that they are expelling Russian diplomats.
Russia denied any connection to the nerve agent attack.
UPDATE: One Russian diplomat in Romania was declared persona non grata by the Foreign Affairs Ministry, and he will be obligated to leave Romania’s territory.