Miffed Russia expels 60 U.S. diplomats, shuts a consulate

In a tit-for-tat move, Russia kicked out 60 U.S. diplomats and ordered to shut the American consulate in St Petersburg, warning of a “symmetrical” retaliation against other countries that expelled its diplomats over a spy poisoning case in the U.K.

Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov announced the expulsions as he blamed the U.K. for “forcing everyone to follow an anti-Russia course,” writes the BBC.

The U.S. State Department said that it reserved the right to respond further to Russia’s “regrettable, unwarranted action,” signaling that the diplomatic standoff could escalate, notes Reuters.