Just hours after the Senate overwhelmingly voted to enforce further sanctions against (mostly) Russia, North Korea and Iran, while binding Trump from undoing any measures against Moscow without Congressional approval, in the process infuriating not only the Kremlin but America’s European allies, with Brussels warning repeatedly it will have no choice but to respond in kind, on Friday morning Russia’s Foreign Ministry ordered the United States to cut its diplomatic staff to 455 by Sept. 1 and said it was seizing a dacha compound used as a retreat as well as a warehouse used by US diplomats in retaliation for new U.S. sanctions against Moscow.
The move is “linked to the passing of the new law on sanctions,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov tells reporters on conference call, explaining that Russia acted before law signed by President Donald Trump because the form of legislation unlikely to change
“The Russian side is suspending the use of all storage facilities on Dorozhnaya Street in Moscow, and a cottage in Serebryaniy Bor by the US Embassy in Russia as of August 1,” the ministry said in a statement.
Moscow also said that the number of US diplomatic service staff in Russia should be reduced to equal the number of Russian diplomats in the US by September 1. “This means that the total number of personnel involved in the American diplomatic and consular institutions in the Russian Federation is reduced to 455.”
Russian President Vladimir Putin has approved the move, according to his spokesman, Dmitry Peskov.
U.S. embassy in Moscow, Russia
The foreign ministry also said that Russia is also prepared to resort to additional retaliatory measures in case of new moves by Washington to reduce its diplomatic corps.
“In the case of new unilateral actions of the US authorities to reduce the number of our diplomats in the US, it will be followed by a tit-for-tat response,” the Foreign Ministry stated. “We reserve the right on other mutual measures, which can affect US interests.”
Two weeks ago, on July 14, Moscow warned that it was running out of patience in light of the stalemate that followed the closure of two Russian diplomatic compounds in the US, and mentioned possible retaliatory measures including the expulsion of diplomats. “We have something to retaliate with: the personnel of the US embassy in Moscow greatly exceeds the number of our embassy staff in Washington,” Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova stated.
Russia’s retaliation, outlined in a statement from the Foreign Ministry, came a day after the U.S. Senate voted to slap new sanctions on Russia, putting President Donald Trump in a tough position by forcing him to take a hard line on Moscow, angering both Russia and the EU, or veto the legislation and anger his own Republican Party.
Russia’s initial tit-for-tat response comes after Russian diplomatic property was confiscated by the Obama administration in 2016, in response to alleged Russian meddling in the US election. The US also expelled 35 Russian diplomats and denied Russian diplomatic staff access to the New York and Maryland compounds.
1) if the American people are called sheeple, what do we call military personnel…automatons?
2) Trump can’t veto sanctions?
3) it sure seems like Congress wants WWIII.
4) could this really be all about the Russians international payment system they are building?
Yes, Trump can veto, but the bill was previously passed in the House with a wide margin and it just passed the Senate with a 98-2 majority. It is virtually veto-proof; senseless to veto except to show Trump disagreement.
The bill also has sanctions against N. Korea and Iran.
What are your thoughts on me fourth question?
Don’t have the knowledge to comment on that. I am aware of China, Russia and others setting up a system to counter the U.S. Controlled Swift System but I haven’t heard anything in quite a while.
The U.S. tries to use Swift as a Hammer. Seems our Lords do everything to make all other countries kneel down.
WIP …. RT has an article relating to this; refers to Nordstream-2
https://www.rt.com/op-edge/397736-us-sanctions-russia-gas/
Kokoda…..good stuff..sheds a BIG light on our government’s desire for global control of the oil market and control of the petro-dollar…did these morons even read the bill before they sabotaged part of the Russian economy. This only serves to enhance the likes of Soros to destroy Russia since they won’t play along with his one world order credo.
Shows how disgusting our Senate members vote – not for the interests of the U.S.
If Trump veto’s this bill it will be seen as proof of his Russian collusion and that he is a Russian agent.
If he doesn’t veto it, it will probably end up leading to WWIII or, at the least, a full re implementation of the Cold War hostility between us and Russia.
It will be interesting to see how he handles it, and what commentary he makes on it when he does.
Congress swamp infested with Deep State rats.
Gee…might a few lay offs help reduce the spending within the federal government…we can’t get Congress to do shit about reducing their spending habit ….. so .. a tip of the hat to the Russians for helping to start a new trend that maybe Europe might follow, be it ever so small.
If we get into a war with Russia, I think I’m going to enlist – in the Russian Army.
It is a lose lose situation for Trump and America. Its a really bad bill, sanctions have proven pretty worthless. Most of Europe would suffer and further distance the US politically and economically from European markets. Trump should veto this stupid bill, although that would just add fuel the Russia collusion arguments and then Congress would likely override the veto…we all lose. Judging from the vote totals one has to wonder just how influential the Israeli lobby really is.
Of a happier note, Reince is gone…don’t know much about Kelly.
World War 3 isn’t going to start itself. Thankfully plenty of worthless democrats and republicans are doing everything they can to help out the effort.