The head of European diplomacy, Josep Borrell, announced on Tuesday that several members of the Russian representation before the European Uniondue to “activities contrary” to their status as diplomats, without specifying either the number or the date of their expulsion.
Italy has decided to expel 30 Russian diplomats for “national security” reasons, Italian Foreign Minister Luigi Di Maio said on Tuesday.
“This measure, taken in common agreement with our European and Atlantic partners, was necessary for reasons linked to our national security and in the context of the current crisis situation related to the unjustified aggression of Ukraine by Russia,” said the chief. of Italian diplomacy.
For his part, Mario Draghi, head of the Italian government, confirmed that “the decision was made in agreement with other European and Atlantic partners”, and specified that his country supported “with conviction” the new sanctions presented on Tuesday by the European Comission (executive body of the European Union).
Slovenia also decided to expel 33 Russian diplomats to express its “strong protest” and “shock” after the dead civilians were found.
Western countries expressed this weekend their revulsion after the discovery of dozens of corpses dressed in civilian clothes in Buchanorthwest of the Ukrainian capital, after the withdrawal of Russian forces.
Russia denies its involvement in the events and denounces a “montage” in kyiv to denigrate the image of Russian soldiers.
After Bucha’s information came to light, Lithuania announced on Monday the expulsion of the Russian ambassador “in response to Russia’s military aggression against sovereign Ukraine and the atrocities committed by the Russian armed forces.”
That same day, Germany announced that it was expelling “a large number” of Russian diplomats stationed in Berlin, according to the Foreign Minister, Annalena Baerbock. According to AFP information, there would be 40.
These employees of the Russian embassy they are a “threat to those who seek protection among us”, said. Germany receives more than 300,000 Ukrainian refugees who have fled fighting in their country since February 24.
Shortly after, France announced the expulsion of 35 Russian diplomats “whose activities are contrary to the interests” of the country, according to a source close to the French Foreign Ministry.
Denmark also decided to expel 15 Russian diplomats accusing them of being “intelligence agents” who carried out “espionage activities on Danish soil”, said the head of Danish diplomacy, Jeppe Kofod.
Another Scandinavian country, Sweden, joined the average with the expulsion of three Russian diplomats.
And Spain decided to expel “around 25” Russian diplomats who represent “a threat to the security interests” of the country, announced the Spanish Minister of Foreign Affairs, José Manuel Albares.
Several European states had already taken similar measures.
According to a count made by AFP, about 300 Russian diplomats have been expelled in total from various countries of the European Union since the start of the Russian offensive.
The Kremlin denounced, on its side, Europe’s “lack of vision” by expelling numerous diplomatssince the movement implies “the reduction of the possibilities of communicating in the diplomatic sphere in these difficult circumstances”, according to the spokesman, Dmitry Peskov.
“And this will inevitably lead to retaliatory measures,” he added.
Source: Ambito
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