On Friday, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said Moscow will expel 10 US diplomats in response to a series of anti-Russia actions by the Biden administration.
The US announced on Thursday a wide array of sanctions on Russian individuals and entities. The White House also said it is expelling 10 Russian diplomats, which Moscow is responding to in kind.
“Ten diplomats were on a list the US side handed over to us asking to ensure their leaving the United States. We will give a tit-for-tat response to that. We will also ask ten US diplomats to leave our country,” Lavrov told a news conference. He also said Russia is expelling five Polish diplomats in response to Warsaw’s decision to expel three Russian diplomats.
The Russian Foreign Ministry also published a list of eight current and former US officials that are banned from entering Russia in response to US sanctions. Included in the list of banned officials are FBI Director Christopher Wray, Director of National Intelligence Avril Haines, former National Security Advisor John Bolton, Director of the US Domestic Policy Council Susan Rice, and James Woolsey, a former CIA chief.
Despite the incredibly hostile action against Russia, when announcing the measures, Biden claimed that he wants to “de-escalate” with Moscow. “Now is the time to de-escalate. The way forward is through thoughtful dialogue and diplomatic process,” he said. Earlier this week, Biden spoke with Russian President Vladimir Putin and proposed an in-person meeting.
On Friday, the Kremlin said it was “good” that Biden is seeking dialogue. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Putin has long been calling for better ties and more communication with the US. “He has repeatedly said that we are ready to develop our dialogue to the degree that our counterparts are ready for this,” Peskov said.
Peskov also slammed the US for its hostile measures and said Washington’s “addiction for sanctions remains unacceptable.”
Barack Hussein “we reduced Russia’s economy to tatters” Obama, Victoria “F*ck The EU” Nuland, and Killary “We Came, We Saw, He – giggle – Died” Clinton should be the first three war criminals declared persona non grata.
Biden claimed that he wants to “de-escalate” with Moscow. “Now is the time to de-escalate. The way forward is through thoughtful dialogue and diplomatic process.”
What’s sad is that what Biden said can’t only be attributed to his senility. It’s just the standard doublespeak bullshit that spews out of the mouths of all politicians regardless of age.
Not a proportional response…! Russia should expel all the diplomats but only 10 can remain…!
More retaliatory sanctions are coming in, Closure of NGO’s and foundations funded by foreign governments that meddle in domestic politics.
It is not considered tit-for-tat, but Russia’s announced closure of portions of Black Sea and Kerch Straits within its territorial waters for any military and state owned vessels.
It is amazing to hear comments — violating freedom of navigation, international law, etc.
Amazing that one has to actually explain what territorial waters are?
It is even more stunning that US claims to be enforcing freedom of navigation and challenging various countries “excessive maritime claims”.
US policing global freedom of navigation in Pacific, Atlantic, Arctic, Indian Ocean?
The international law governing freedom of navigation is UNCLOS — UN Convention on the Laws of the Seas. US IS NOT A SIGNATORY OF THE CONVENTION.
The Convention states clearly that countries that are NOT SIGNATORIES HAVE NO STANDING IN RESOLVING DISPUTES RESULTING FROM UNCLOS INTERPRETATION.
US asking Hague Arbitration Court is just such example. US has no standing in matters of UNCLOS resolution, and claiming that Court AWARDED Philippines rights against China is for ignorant press. No arbitration can occur unless BOTH parties agree to accept Arbitration Court ruling. No such process ever took place.
US claims that EZZ belonging to a country does not entitle it to notification prior to “innocent right of passage” of military vessels. Wrong. Commercial navigation is allowed without notification, but not military navigation.
What is happening is — US redefining UNCLOS laws, while as a non-signatory has no standing in any court resolving UNCLOS disputes.
This Russian closure for six months of military navigation through its territorial waters should be a no brainer — but when the world policeman without the license decides right from wrong — what kind of world can we expect?
https://www.jpost.com/breaking-news/czech-parliament-classifies-hezbollah-as-a-terrorist-organization-647214
https://www.rferl.org/a/czech-republic-expels-russians-depot-blast-skripal/31209614.html
It’s as though Israel, the UK, and the US have instructed the Czech Republic to organize a terrorist watch list and which entities should be included.
https://www.reuters.com/business/aerospace-defense/uk-warships-sail-black-sea-may-ukraine-russia-tensions-rise-sunday-times-2021-04-18/
What do the Brits know that Joe Biden hasn’t been informed of? Let’s start with expelling all of London’s diplomatic staff from Russia and see where this military action goes.
I suggest the UK may launch a projectile (missile) toward Crimea or Russia and test Mr. Putin’s resolve.
Clarence Thomas, Newt Gingrich, and Thomas Sowell analyze Joe Biden.