Russians retaliate, cast out diplomats

LONDON — Russia will expel 60 U.S. diplomats and probably dozens from other nations, the Kremlin said Thursday, intensifying its clash with Europe and the United States.

The action, which includes closing the U.S. Consulate in St. Petersburg, Russia, retaliates for the expulsions last week of more than 150 Russian officials in other countries. Those expulsions were a response to a poison attack on British soil that Britain and its allies blame on Moscow.

Sixty U.S. diplomats will be expelled from Russia — the same as the number of Russian diplomats whom Washington is expelling. The Americans have until April 5 to leave.

Russia also plans to expel an unspecified number of diplomats from the more than 20 other countries and NATO that joined Britain and the U.S. in expelling Russians. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said the number would “mirror” the number of expelled Russians, which suggested that the ultimate total could exceed 150.

The crisis over the poisoning of a former Russian double agent and his daughter has escalated tensions between the Kremlin and the West.

The U.S. condemned the Russian retaliation. “With its regrettable, unwarranted decision today, it is clear that Russia is not interested in dialogue about issues that matter to our two countries,” State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert tweeted. “Russia is further isolating itself following the brazen chemical attack in the United Kingdom.”

President Vladimir Putin of Russia and his government have denied any involvement in the March 4 attack on Sergei Skripal and his daughter, Yulia, and have tried to cast blame on Britain, the United States and other nations.

The Skripals were found unconscious in the small English city of Salisbury, where Sergei Skripal lives. He remains hospitalized in critical condition, but his daughter is improving, British officials said Thursday.