The US President Donald trump said that “very grateful” to Russian leader Vladimir Putin for the expulsion of diplomats, as this will help the us side to save on salaries. However, this statement aroused the indignation of some politicians and the press.
“I am very grateful that he released a large number of people, because now we have less costs,” said trump, quoted by Reuters.
He also called the Russian sanctions “a course in cold war-style” differs from “reaction from other presidents in similar circumstances in the past.”
This comment was the first statement trump about Russia’s sanctions.
However, some American politicians have viewed the appeal of the tramp indignantly. The ABC notes that the veterans of the American diplomacy stated that trump’s words are disrespectful to diplomatic staff. According to them, trump does not understand that shows a lack of support in relation to diplomats.
Former U.S. Ambassador to Russia Michael McFaul said that trump does not understand diplomacy. Politico reporter Annie Karni wrote that this statement trump has surprised even his own advisers.
Previously Russia has imposed on U.S. diplomats, the sanctions prohibiting them to use the cottage in the Silver forest and all storage facilities on Road street in Moscow. In addition, Moscow has demanded from Washington to September 1 to reduce the number of diplomats in Russia, to 755. The foreign Ministry said that the United States should lead the number of its diplomats in the Russian Federation “in precise correspondence with the number of Russian diplomats and technical staff who are in the United States.”
These measures were a response to approved by the US Congress bill on new sanctions against Russia. This document, in particular, imposes restrictions on investments in Russian energy projects and prohibits the US President to lift the sanctions without congressional authorization. The Russian foreign Ministry stressed that Moscow “reserves the right, in order of reciprocity and on other measures that may affect the interests of the United States”.