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Washington — Russia has expelled the US deputy chief of mission to Russia, Bart Gorman, a state department spokesperson said on Thursday, warning of a US response amid heightened fears of a Russian invasion of Ukraine.
“Russia’s action against our deputy chief of mission was unprovoked and we consider this an escalatory step and are considering our response,” the spokesperson said.
It was not immediately clear what justification Moscow gave for the expulsion, but it comes during a months-long standoff over a Russian build-up of more than 150,000 troops near its border with Ukraine.
US officials warned the risk of a Russian invasion remained high and that Russia may attempt to fabricate a pretext for a conflict, despite Moscow saying it was moving some of its troops away from the border.
Alongside the border tensions, the US and Russia have been engaged in a tussle over their respective diplomatic presences in each others’ capitals and Moscow said in December that US embassy staff who have been in the post for more than three years should return home.
The spokesperson said Gorman, the second most senior US official at the US embassy in Moscow, had a valid visa and had been in Russia for less than three years.
“We call on Russia to end its baseless expulsions of US diplomats and staff and to work productively to rebuild our missions,” the state department spokesperson said.
“Now more than ever, it is critical that our countries have the necessary diplomatic personnel in place to facilitate communication between our governments.”
At the same time US President Joe Biden said the threat of a Russian invasion of Ukraine is “very high” but the door to a diplomatic solution remains open. Speaking to reporters as he departed the White House, Biden said that “every indication we have is that they’re prepared to go into Ukraine and attack Ukraine”.
Asked how high the threat of Russian invasion was at the moment, Biden said: “It’s very high. My sense is this will happen in the next several days.”
Biden said Russia has not moved back its forces from the Ukrainian border and the US has reason to believe Russia is engaged in a false flag operation that Moscow would use to justify an invasion.
Support our award-winning journalism. The Premium package (digital only) is R30 for the first month and thereafter you pay R129 p/m now ad-free for all subscribers.
Russia expels senior US diplomat
Washington — Russia has expelled the US deputy chief of mission to Russia, Bart Gorman, a state department spokesperson said on Thursday, warning of a US response amid heightened fears of a Russian invasion of Ukraine.
“Russia’s action against our deputy chief of mission was unprovoked and we consider this an escalatory step and are considering our response,” the spokesperson said.
It was not immediately clear what justification Moscow gave for the expulsion, but it comes during a months-long standoff over a Russian build-up of more than 150,000 troops near its border with Ukraine.
US officials warned the risk of a Russian invasion remained high and that Russia may attempt to fabricate a pretext for a conflict, despite Moscow saying it was moving some of its troops away from the border.
Alongside the border tensions, the US and Russia have been engaged in a tussle over their respective diplomatic presences in each others’ capitals and Moscow said in December that US embassy staff who have been in the post for more than three years should return home.
The spokesperson said Gorman, the second most senior US official at the US embassy in Moscow, had a valid visa and had been in Russia for less than three years.
“We call on Russia to end its baseless expulsions of US diplomats and staff and to work productively to rebuild our missions,” the state department spokesperson said.
“Now more than ever, it is critical that our countries have the necessary diplomatic personnel in place to facilitate communication between our governments.”
At the same time US President Joe Biden said the threat of a Russian invasion of Ukraine is “very high” but the door to a diplomatic solution remains open. Speaking to reporters as he departed the White House, Biden said that “every indication we have is that they’re prepared to go into Ukraine and attack Ukraine”.
Asked how high the threat of Russian invasion was at the moment, Biden said: “It’s very high. My sense is this will happen in the next several days.”
Biden said Russia has not moved back its forces from the Ukrainian border and the US has reason to believe Russia is engaged in a false flag operation that Moscow would use to justify an invasion.
Reuters
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