US and several other countries expels Russians diplomats

The US, Canada, several EU countries and Ukraine have expelled Russian diplomats in response to the poisoning of a former double agent in the UK. 

US President Donald Trump has expelled 60 Russian from the United States and closed the Russian consulate in Seattle in response to a nerve agent attack earlier this month in Britain.

It is the toughest action that Trump has taken against Russia and followed what one of the official called a "reckless attempt" by the Russian government on March 4 to attack former Russian spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia with a military-grade nerve agent.

The pair were found slumped on a bench in the southern English city of Salisbury and remain critically ill in hospital.

To the Russian government we say: when you attack our friends, you will face serious consequences," a senior US administration official told reporters on Monday, speaking on condition of anonymity.

Moscow has denied responsibility for the attack and has retaliated against Britain's expulsion of 23 Russians by ordering out the same number of Britons.

The Kremlin said ahead of the US announcement that it would also respond in kind.

The attack was the first known offensive use of a nerve toxin in Europe since World War Two, and European Union member states agreed on Friday to take additional measures against Russia.

Germany, France, the Netherlands, Denmark, Poland, Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia announced expulsions of Russians on Monday.

COUNTRIES THAT HAVE EXPELLED RUSSIAN DIPLOMATS:

* Britain - Expelled 23 Russians alleged to have worked as spies under diplomatic cover. Promised to freeze any Russian state assets that "may be used to threaten the life or property of UK nationals or residents"
* US - Expelling 60 Russians, including 12 intelligence officers from Russia's mission to UN headquarters in New York. Closing Russian consulate in Seattle
* Canada - Expelling four Russians alleged to have worked as spies or interfered in Canadian affairs under diplomatic cover. Denying three applications for Russian diplomatic staff
* France - Expelling four diplomats
* Germany - Expelling four diplomats
* Poland - Expelling four diplomats
* Italy - Expelling two diplomats
* Lithuania - Expelling three diplomats
* Czech republic - Expelling three diplomats
* Netherlands - Expelling two diplomats
* Denmark - Expelling two diplomats
* Latvia - Expelling one diplomat
* Estonia - Expelling one diplomat
* Finland - Expelling one diplomat
* Ukraine - Expelling 13 Russian diplomats

RUSSIAN RESPONSE:
* Britain - Russia has expelled 23 British diplomats and closed the British consulate in St Petersburg and the British Council cultural body
* Others - Moscow will expel at least 60 staff from US diplomatic missions in Russia, RIA news agency quoted Russian senator Vladimir Dzhabarov as saying. An unnamed foreign ministry source says: "The response will be symmetrical. We will work on it in the coming days and will respond to every country in turn."

Reuters