Russia ordering out 60 US diplomats - Reuters

Reuters is reporting that Russia has begun expelling foreign diplomats in retaliation for Russian embassy workers around the world being pushed out in response to the alleged Russian poisoning attempt of a former Russian double agent in the UK earlier this year.

Key quotes (source: Reuters)

"Russia expelled 60 U.S. diplomats on Thursday and announced it would eject scores from other countries that have joined London and Washington in censuring Moscow over the poisoning of a spy."

"The U.S. ambassador was also ordered to shut the consulate in St Petersburg, in Russia’s retaliation for the biggest expulsion of diplomats since the Cold War."

"The response, which precisely mirrored steps taken by Western governments against Russian diplomats, appeared to show Moscow was not seeking to escalate the standoff over the nerve agent poisoning of Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia in Salisbury, England."

"Washington, however, indicated that it is could retaliate for Russia’s “regretable, unwarranted action,” raising the possibility that the crisis could intensify."