Vladimir Putin
The President of Russia Vladimir Putin in interview to TV host Vladimir Solovyov said that the staff of the diplomatic missions of the USA will be reduced by 755 people. The text published on the website Вести.Ru.
“More than a thousand diplomats and technical staff — worked, are still working in Russia, 755 will have to cease their activities in the Russian Federation. It is sensitive,” said he.
Putin added that you can think of any other restrictive measures. “The question is whether or not you need to do it and what package we have. The volume of trade and economic relations with the United States small. Any comparison does not go with the volume of trade relations with, say, China, countries of the European Union. The possibilities are large, and due to various circumstances a small amount,” — said the President.
July 28, the Russian foreign Ministry has offered up to September 1 to reduce to 455 people total number of staff employed in diplomatic missions of the United States in Russia. In addition, from 1 August the staff of the American Embassy in Moscow forbidden to use the dacha in Serebryany Bor, as well as warehouses on Road street in the capital.
“In the case of a new unilateral actions of the us authorities to reduce the number of our diplomats in the U.S. this will be followed by a mirror response”, — reads the statement of the Russian authorities.
27 July the us Senate passed a bill on sanctions against Russia, Iran and North Korea. The draft law sent for signature to President Donald Trump.
The bill provides for several limitations. In particular, it is proposed to reduce to 14 days the maximum period of funding of banks, which are under sanctions, and 30 days — for oil and gas companies. It is also assumed that the US President may take action against companies who intend to invest in the construction of the export pipeline more than five million dollars a year or a million at a time. In addition, the document specifically mentions the desire of the United States to oppose construction of the pipeline “Nord stream-2”.