London, Europe Brief News – Italy, Denmark, Spain and Sweden have expelled a total of more than 70 Russian diplomats.
Moscow strongly condemned the mass expulsions of Russian diplomats by a number of European countries.
It considered the decision as a “short-sighted move” that will only complicate communication.
“Narrowing down opportunities for diplomatic communication in such an unprecedentedly difficult crisis environment is a short-sighted move that will further complicate our communication, which is necessary to find a solution,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters, referring to the Russian war in Ukraine.
“And this will inevitably lead to retaliatory steps,” he added.
Spanish foreign minister Jose Manuel Albares said on Tuesday his country was expelling about 25 Russian diplomats and embassy staff. He considered them “a threat to the interests and security of our country”.
Sweden will expel three Russian diplomats for spying, according to Foreign Minister Ann Linde.
Earlier on Tuesday, Italy’s Foreign Minister Luigi Di Maio said that his country ordered the expulsion of 30 Russian envoys.
“The measure is in agreement with other European and Atlantic partners. It is necessary for reasons linked to our national security and in the context of the current crisis caused by the unjustified aggression against Ukraine on the part of the Russian Federation,” Di Maio said.
Further European Sanctions
French President Emmanuel Macron has called for imposing further sanctions on Russia over Bucha Killings.
Journalists from international media over the weekend found corpses in civilian clothes – some with their hands bound – in Bucha after Ukrainian forces retook the town on the outskirts of Ukraine’s capital, Kyiv, from the Russian army.
“What happened in Bucha demands a new round of sanctions and very clear measures,” Macron said, adding that there were “very clear indications of war crimes”.
Macron said new sanctions targeting the oil and coal industries would be “particularly” painful for Russia.
