US demands closure of Russian consulate in San Francisco
The United States has demanded that Russia close down sites in San Francisco, New York and Washington DC in response to Russia’s demands that the size of the US mission in Russia be cut, according to the State Department. The US has ordered Russia to close diplomatic offices in the three cities within the next two days (before September 2) in the latest round of punitive measures between the two countries that began at the end of last year. Last month, Russia ordered the US to cut its diplomatic and technical staff in Russia by more than half, to 455 people, after Congress overwhelmingly approved new sanctions against Russia. The secretary of state Rex Tillerson spoke to his Russian counterpart, Sergei Lavrov, in a phone call on Thursday. Lavrov said Moscow “regrets an escalation of tension not initiated by Russia”. A senior US administration official said the call was “professional” and that Lavrov “agreed to the sentiment that it was important to find a way to improve our relations”. No Russians will be expelled in this latest move, and US officials said staff at the offices affected could be reassigned to other Russian diplomatic missions around the country. But they made it clear that the buildings had to be vacated and would have to be sold or have their leases ended.
