Moscow reduces diplomatic mission staff in US to 455

The ministry said that this was in response to the passing of a new bill on sanctions by the Senate late Thursday

Russia's foreign ministry on Friday announced counter measures in response to tough new sanctions proposed by the United States, ordering Washington to reduce its diplomatic staff.

Moscow ordered the US to reduce its diplomatic presence in Russia to 455 diplomats and staff and also barred it from using a Moscow summer house and storage facility.

The ministry said that this was in response to the passing of a new bill on sanctions by the Senate late Thursday.

US President Donald Trump will now have to decide whether to accept or veto the measures.

President Vladimir Putin on Thursday slammed what he called "anti-Russian hysteria" in Washington and said that Russia could not "endlessly tolerate this kind of insolence."

Moscow complained that the new sanctions bill showed with all clarity that relations with Russia have fallen hostage to the domestic political struggle in the US.

It warned that it reserves the right to carry out other measures that could affect the interests of US while acting in a reciprocal fashion.

The move comes after Russia has repeatedly expressed anger at Washington barring its diplomats access to two compounds in the US in December last year, under Barack Obama, in response to suspected Russian meddling in the US election.

Obama at the same time expelled 35 Russian diplomats for spying. President Vladimir Putin initially held off from retaliating, saying he would wait to see how Trump reacted after he came into the White House.