Russia responded to US sanctions and hinted at a second helping
The Russian Foreign Ministry has published a list of countermeasures to the sanctions imposed by the administration of US President Joe Biden.
Their list was published on the official website of the Foreign Ministry, a PolitNavigator correspondent reports.
In the near future, 10 American diplomats will be expelled from Russia.
“By the way, we noticed how quickly the US Administration “sang along” in Warsaw, demanding the departure of three Russian diplomats from Poland. In turn, five Polish diplomats will be expelled from Russia,” the statement said.
The US Embassy will limit the ability to attract new employees seconded to Moscow. Russia will issue no more than 10 visas per year. The hiring of Russian citizens in diplomatic missions will be prohibited. In the Russian Federation, the activities of American foundations and non-governmental organizations controlled by the United States that conduct subversive activities will be stopped.
“It is obvious that the current extremely tense situation results in an objective need for the ambassadors of both our countries to be in their capitals to analyze the situation and conduct consultations,” the statement said.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs indicates that this is not a complete list of measures that will be taken. If the United States does not demonstrate prudence, Russia will propose that they reduce the number of diplomatic missions by 300 people.
A little later, the Russian Foreign Ministry published the names of eight current and former American high-ranking officials and figures who were permanently banned from entering the country for anti-Russian activities. The most famous of them is former assistant to President Trump John Bolton.
“There are other options. We, of course, understand the limitations of our ability to mirror Americans economically. But there is a certain resource in this regard, and it will also be used if Washington chooses to move along the sanctions spiral,” the statement says.
Senator Alexei Pushkov believes that now the prospect of a meeting between the two presidents, which Biden asked Putin about, is a big question.
“The State Department reported that it does not want to recall the ambassador in Moscow. Now he is recommended to leave for some time on his own. Which is the clear wish of the Kremlin to temporarily not see the American ambassador in Moscow. Let Washington consult with its superiors on how best to build a “bridge” with Russia after the introduction of new sanctions against it. The prospect of a Russia-US summit is highly questionable. These days, the American doctrine is being tested, which states that with Russia the United States can simultaneously walk and chew gum,” Pushkov wrote in his Telegram channel.
“The logic of the Russian Federation’s retaliatory measures against the United States is clear. American funding of any public activities in the Russian Federation is completely stopped. Also, Russian citizens are de facto prohibited from working for the American state. The next steps could be: a) a ban on the work of American citizens in senior positions in Russian structures and corporations directly/indirectly controlled by the Russian state/government; b) a mirror ban for Russian citizens to work for American corporations on the territory of the Russian Federation,” predicts liberal political scientist Stanislav Belkovsky.
“The Russian Foreign Ministry gracefully makes it clear that next time the US Ambassador to Russia Sullivan will be declared persona non grata. I think this will happen very soon. The American White House has gathered people who, unfortunately, are too arrogant to adequately perceive such subtle hints,” says political scientist Maxim Zharov.
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