Trump fires 60 Russian diplomats, orders to shutdown Seattle consulate over spy attack

Washington, March 26: Following the poisoning issue of an ex-spy by Russia in Britain, US President Donald Trump today fired 60 Russian diplomats on spying charges and closed the Russian consulate in Seattle.

It said, this is in retaliation to the use of nerve agent against former spy Sergei Skripal in the United Kingdom, which blames Russia for the attack.

“Today’s actions make the United States safer by reducing Russia’s ability to spy on Americans and to conduct covert operations that threaten America’s national security,” said White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders.

“The United States stands ready to cooperate to build a better relationship with Russia, but this can only happen with a change in the Russian government’s behavior.”

It comes days after Washington warned of retaliation for the use of nerve agent against a former Russian spy in the UK. The US and the EU have together decided to teach a lesson to Russia over the spy gate. A dozen of these expelled diplomats are based at Russia's Permanent Mission to the UN.

Meanwhile, Moscow has denied these allegations. The United Kingdom has already expelled 23 Russian diplomats. At least 10 EU member states will order Russian officials to leave, with the number of countries answering the UK’s call for action expected to rise in the coming weeks.