France on Monday said it would expel 35 Russian diplomats as part of a joint European action after Moscow's invasion of Ukraine. "France decided this evening to expel a number of Russian personnel with diplomatic status stationed in France whose activities are against our security interests," the foreign ministry said in a statement. Read our live blog to see how all the day's events unfolded. All times are Paris time [GMT+2].
There has been a “sea change” in EU sanctions talks following revelations of a massacre in Bucha, reports FRANCE 24’s Brussels correspondent Dave Keating:
Moscow warns of ‘symmetrical’ response to Western countries’ expulsion of Russian diplomats
Russia will respond proportionately to the expulsion of its diplomats from a number of Western countries, Russian ex-president and deputy head of security council Dmitry Medvedev said late on Monday.
“Everyone knows the answer: it will be symmetrical and destructive for bilateral relations,” Medvedev said in a posting on his Telegram channel.
“Who have they punished? First of all, themselves.”
On Monday, France said it would expel 35 Russian diplomats over Moscow’s actions in Ukraine and Germany declared “significant number” of Russian diplomats as undesirable.
“If this continues, it will be fitting, as I wrote back on 26th February – to slam shut the door on Western embassies,” Medvedev said. “It will be cheaper for everyone. And then we will end up just looking at each other in no other way than through gunsights.”
This stinks to high heaven.
ReplyDelete1) This would be the worst possible thing for Russia to do and give justification for the West to get more involved.
2) Russia says its false and has found much proof to support their claims and request a Security Council meeting to present and request a formal and open investigation.
3) The "West" shuts the door and refuses to even meet and hear Russia's allegations, see the proof, or open and transparent investigation.
I don't know the answer, but when the one screaming the loudest prevents the other from speaking and shuts down any investigation....it looks / smells rotten to me.