Exiled Diplomats Reach Moscow

While tensions are already high, Moscow also circulated a warning to its citizens travelling towards Britain, about the possibility of isolation and mistreatment by British authorities.

Russian diplomats who were expelled from the United States arrived in Russia today. Two planes landed today at Moscow's Vnuvo airport. There were 171 people on board, 60 expelled diplomats and their families.

In total, over 150 Russian diplomats have already been ordered to leave the United States, EU countries, NATO and others.

The United States said 60 expelled diplomats were spies and that they were selected by several Russian diplomatic posts throughout the US, as well as by Russia's UN mission. Among the measures taken were the closure of the Russian consulate in the town of Seattle.

However, Washington has said Russia can apply to send other diplomats who will replace the fugitives.

Tensions have reached a peak of the post-Cold War period after the attack carried out in Britain with the nervous agent “Novicook” invented and produced during the Soviet era. Russia continues to deny it played any role in the attack on former agent Sergei Scripal and his daughter Yulia, on March 4th in the English city of Salisbury. Adding to tensions, Russia issued a warning yesterday to its citizens travelling towards Britain that they could be isolated and mistreated by local authorities.

Despite high tensions, US President Donald Trump has often been reluctant to criticise Russian leader Vladimir Putin and even spoke of the possibility of a meeting between them in the near future.

Since last night, the American flag was no longer seen waving at the US consulate building in St. Petersburg, whose closure was ordered by Moscow. The American Embassy in Moscow wrote on Twitter that “the consulate is closed, but our job to improve US-Russia relations is continuing”. / VoA