US, EU expel Russian officials over spy attack

ALLIES SUPPORT UK London accuses Moscow of poisoning agent on March 4

WASHINGTON/LONDON: The Donald Trump administration on Monday ordered the expulsion of 60 Russian diplomatic and intelligence officers posted in the US and shut down the Russian consulate in Seattle in retaliation for the nerve agent attack on a former Russian spy in Britain.

The expelled officials have seven days to leave the country with their families. Of the 60, 48 are from the Russian embassy in Washington and the remaining 12 from Russia’s permanent mission to the UN in New York.

The Russian consulate in Seattle was ordered to be closed due to its proximity to submarine bases and to Boeing, which manufactures civilian and military aircraft.

The US said these actions were coordinated with its Nato allies and partners around the world. Within hours, 14 EU countries, Canada, Ukraine, Sweden and Albania had announced their own expulsions.

These actions are the “largest collective expulsion of Russian intelligence officers in history”, British Prime Minister Theresa May told the House of Commons. Britain had expelled 23 Russian officials on March 14.

The UK and its allies accuse Russia of being involved in the poisoning of Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia in Salisbury on March 4. The two are still in a critical condition.

White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders, holding Russia directly responsible for the attack, said: “The United States takes this action in conjunction with our Nato allies and partners around the world in response to Russia’s use of a military-grade chemical weapon on

The Netherlands Denmark Italy Albania Sweden Croatia Romania Finland Estonia Latvia * Expelled on March 14, 2018

the soil of the UK, the latest in its ongoing pattern of destabilising activities around the world.

“With these steps, the US and our allies and partners make clear to Russia that its actions have consequences,” she said.

In a separate but simultaneously released statement, European Council President Donald Tusk announced similar expul- sions by 14 member countries of the EU, adding “additional measures, including further expulsions … are not to be excluded in the coming days and weeks”.

Russia has denied any role in the poison attack and is expected to retaliate to these expulsions. It had earlier ejected 23 British diplomats as a tit-for-tat over London’s move.