Russia kicks out dozens of French, Spanish diplomats as relations continue to sour


Russia ordered dozens of French diplomats to leave the country Wednesday as relations between Russia and the West continue to deteriorate. Russia's move targeted 34 French diplomats, as well as 27 from Spain, according to Russian Foreign Ministry statements. Both France and Spain took similar actions to expel Russian diplomats from their own countries in recent weeks. The Spanish diplomats must leave Russian soil within a week, while the French were granted two weeks. France expelled six Russian citizens it said were operating as spies under a diplomatic cover in early April.

The Kremlin's retaliation comes as tensions between Russia and the West continue to escalate. Sweden and Finland filed a joint request to join NATO on Tuesday, despite their tradition of neutrality.

Russian President Vladimir Putin's regime had previously stated that such a move could warrant the deployment of nuclear and hypersonic weapons to the Finnish border. Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov brushed aside the development in a Tuesday statement, however, saying it will not make "much difference."

"Finland and Sweden, as well as other neutral countries, have been participating in NATO military exercises for many years," Lavrov said Tuesday.

"NATO takes their territoryRussia kicks out dozens of French, Spanish diplomats as relations continue to sour into account when planning military advances to the East. So in this sense there is probably not much difference. Let's see how their territory is used in practice in the North Atlantic alliance," he added.

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

59 dead, millions stranded as floods hit Bangladesh, India

The Bermuda Triangle, Bigfoot and other urban legends that have faded over the years

Fresh Floods Hit Bangladesh, Hundreds of Thousands Left Staranded

Technical, madrasa students to get stipends through Nagad

Researchers have developed floating ‘artificial leaves’ that generate clean fuels from sunlight and water, and could eventually operate on a large scale at sea.

4,000 Medical Teams Ready to Provide Health Care in 11 Flood-Hit Districts

Mobile Schools in Afghanistan Inspire Children to Learn

Scraps of stale bread are keeping Afghans alive

Dhaka interested to receive US investment from DFC for infrastructure opportunities

People suffer for price hike of essentials in Kishoreganj