Moscow announces response measures to new US sanctions

MOSCOW (Sputnik): Earlier, Washington slapped new sanctions on Russian individuals, companies, and sovereign bonds on the primary market in response to Moscow’s alleged involvement in the SolarWinds hack and purported meddling in the 2020 election.

The Russian Foreign Ministry has unveiled the Kremlin’s response to the recently introduced US sanctions. The move includes actions against the American diplomatic mission in Russia as well as US officials.

• US Ambassador to Russia John Sullivan was asked to return to Washington “for consultations”, with Moscow noting that both countries’ envoys should do so given the current situation.
• Ten American diplomats will be expelled from the country
• Russia launches the procedure of denouncing an earlier agreement that allowed the diplomats of the two countries to travel outside the cities they are based in.
• Moscow will ban the US diplomatic facilities from hiring Russians and third-country citizens.
• Kremlin also added eight members of the Biden administration to the no-entry list
• In addition, Moscow will be ending the operations of the US fund operating in the country with the goal of meddling in Russian domestic politics.

Details to follow