Russia promises retaliation for expelled diplomats

World Today

NEW YORK, NY – MARCH 26: The Permanent Russian Mission to the United Nations stands in Manhattan on March 26, 2018 in New York City. In a co-ordinated response to the poisoning of a former Russian spy in the UK, countries around the globe are expelling dozens of Russian diplomats. The US is expelling 48 envoys at the Russian embassy in Washington and 12 more at the UN in New York. It will also order the closure of the Russian consulate in Seattle. (Spencer Platt/AFP)

Russia’s Foreign Ministry said that the U.S. and Europe are on a course towards confrontation with Moscow, after the EU and the Trump administration ordered dozens of diplomats be expelled.

The countries determined that Russia played a part in the poisoning on of a Russian spy on U.K. soil. The Kremlin, however, denies any involvement and said the expulsions won’t go unanswered.

CGTN’s Dan Ashby reports.

As President Putin met with the Emir of Qatar to improve relations, he was about to be presented with his biggest diplomatic crisis yet.

Dozens of Russian diplomats expelled from the U.S. and EU, in response to the poisoning of the former Russian intelligence officer Sergei Skripal and his daughter on British soil. An attack Moscow says it knew nothing about. The United States administration alone is kicking out 60.

“What the United States of America is doing today. They are destroying what little remained of United States Russian ties. I would add that all the responsibility for ruining Russian American relations is on the United States of America.”, said Anatoly Antonov the Russian ambassador to the United States.

The President’s spokesman hinted at reciprocal measures to come.

“The main analysis will be conducted in our foreign ministry. And after the president will be presented with suggestions on retaliatory steps. The final decision will be made by the head of the Russian state,” Dmitri Peskov, Russian presidential spokesman said.

After his expected landslide win of a fourth term, President Putin said he wanted to improve relations with countries but now his government is deciding how best to retaliate.