Russia expects US to expel further 28 diplomats by June end, says Ambassador Antonov

Amid escalating tensions between West and Moscow over Ukarine crisis, Russian Ambassor to US Anatoly Antonov said that Kremlin expects Washington to order furr 28 Russian diplomats to leave by June end. Notably, deployment of over 100,000 Russian troops at Ukrainian border has become a major flashpoint in soaring relations between Moscow and West. While US has started moving thousands of troops to Eastern Europe in order to defend its allies, Kremlin, on or hand, has repeatedly accused Washington of “igniting tensions” on continent with US deployments in Eastern Europe.   

Now, speaking on Solovyov Live show, Antonov said, “A furr 28 Russian diplomats will have to leave US by June 30.”

Ambassor noted that 27 Russian diplomats who were told last November to leave United States by end of January were threatened with arrests if y lingered a day longer. When asked wher two nations were on a brink of cutting diplomatic ties, Antonov stated that Russian President Vlimir Putin would decide on next steps. However, he also promised that Russia would keep trying to avoid a diplomatic breakdown. 

"This falls in competence of our president," Antonov said, ding that embassy would "work until last diplomat to defend our national interest while trying to normalise US-Russian relationship."

Furr, Antonov noted that Russian diplomats last met with ir American counterparts in Vienna on February 3. But he ded that meeting failed to produce any positive results. "Russian colleagues came re with a positive program that was aimed solely at removing all limits on diplomatic work in US and Russia, allowing diplomats to work, as usual, ending visa war and restoring functions of our diplomatic missions," he explained. 

Russia expects furr US sanctions

Moreover, after Putin and his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping met during Winter Olympics in Beijing, Antonov stated that Washington is getting concerned because of fact that Moscow has currently been moving closer to Beijing. According to him, Russia is preparing for furr US sanctions. Russian envoy said, “Unfortunately, we expect sanctions. re is no telling what y will be. Much of squabbling has been about who will hit Russia harder and more painfully.”

​​In recent months, tensions between Moscow and Kyiv have escalated drastically over Russian troops' build-up close to Ukraine border. US and European Union have expressed concern over military build-up near Ukrainian border. Previously, West announced that Moscow would face "massive consequences and severe costs" if it attacks Ukraine. However, Russia continues to deny accusations that it is planning an invasion. Furrmore, Moscow stressed that NATO's presence near Russian borders is a threat to its national security. 

(Image: AP)