US, EU expel Russian Diplomats over Ex-Spy poisoning

The United States, European Union countries, Canada and Ukraine kick out 60 Russian diplomats today in response to Russia's use of a nerve agent to poison a former Russian spy based in the United Kingdom.

US President, Donald Trump ordered the expulsion of the Russian diplomats in the country identified as intelligence agents and the closure of the Russian consulate in Seattle, the most forceful action Trump has taken against Russia to date.

 According to reports, those expelled are 48 of the alleged intelligence agents work at the Russian embassy in Washington and 12 that were posted at the United Nations in New York.

British Prime Minister Theresa May called the collective move "the largest expulsion of Russian intelligence officers in history."

"We have no disagreement with the Russian people who have achieved so much through their country's great history. But President Putin's regime is carrying out acts of aggression against our shared values, the United Kingdom will stand to take responsibilities of the European Union (EU) and North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) to face down these threats."

Trump took the action after the US together with the United Kingdom in accusing Russia of attempting to murder former Russian double agent and his daughter earlier this month using a nerve agent in Salisbury, England. The action comes just 11 days after the Trump administration leveled the first sanctions against Russia for its interference in the 2016 US presidential election.

Daily mail