Will Putin’s Expulsion Order For 755 US Diplomats Worsen US-Russia Relations?

Update: 6:19.a.m, EDT — Referring to the massive embassy staff cut, Vladimir Putin’s spokesman Dmitry Peskov on Monday said it would be up to Washington to choose the employees who would be among those removed in the U.S. embassy in Russia. It could be both Americans and Russians, he said.

Original story:

In what is being viewed as a tit-for-tat response to President Donald Trump’s approval to the Russia sanctions bill passed by an overwhelming majority in the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives last week, Russian President Vladimir Putin confirmed massive job cuts in U.S. embassy in Russia on Sunday.

Insisting he did not wish to leave the U.S. actions “unanswered,” Putin referred to the multifaceted corporation of the two countries in various fields and warned Moscow could cut the cooperation in many ways. “The main thing is, that we have a multifaceted cooperation in many fields. Of course, Moscow has a lot to say and there is a number of spheres of cooperation that we could potentially cut and it would be sensitive to the U.S. side. But I think we shouldn't do it. It would harm the development of international relations. I hope it won't get to that point. As of today, I'm against it,” he said in an interview with state-run Russia Today.

“The American side has made a move which, it is important to note, hasn't been provoked by anything, to worsen the Russia-U.S. relations. [It includes] unlawful restrictions, attempts to influence other states of the world, including our allies, who are interested in developing and keeping relations with Russia,” he added. In a possible reference to Trump presidency, he said he was hoping things would change between the two countries, however, he could not expect a change in future.

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The staff cut would affect 755 of 1,200 people working at the U.S. embassy in the country, according to Russian media. However, raising doubts over the massive job cuts, former U.S. Ambassador to Russia Michael McFaul questioned on Twitter if Russia actually had 755 U.S. diplomats in the country.

Following the July 27 unanimous vote in the Senate, the State Department said in a statement Sunday it was hoping to see Russia’s efforts in coming days to improve the ties between the two countries.

However, after Putin announced the job cuts, there was no response from Trump or the White House, while the State Department said it would be able to respond only after an assessment of such limitations, reports said.

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POTUS, who otherwise does not shy away from giving sharp reactions to various controversies, did not take a clear stance on the sanctions bill. The White House did not make it clear till Friday if Trump was ready to sign the bill into a law. Meanwhile, the president has been trying to walk the tight rope to maintain amicable relations with the country amid deepening anger in the U.S. over Moscow’s meddling in the presidential elections.

While the Russia election probe, which he called “witch hunt,” prompted Trump to fire several government officials in recent months— including James Comey who served as the FBI Director — he has often praised the Russian President and has received compliments from him in return. Putin and Trump shared a convivial meeting in Hamburg, Germany at the G20 Summit earlier this month, indicating the two countries may emerge as stronger allies in near future. In an interview with CBN News published July 12, Trump said the two leaders get along “very well.” However, it is yet to be seen how POTUS and Putin would strike a balancing act as Congress pushes Moscow toward accountability.