It is the answer to the “provocative and unjustified decision” of these states in April, Russian diplomats to be expelled, the Foreign Ministry in Moscow said on Wednesday.
France had 41 Russians in April, Italy 30 and Spain 27 diplomats expelled “for reasons of national security”. The French Foreign Ministry condemned the move of Russia. Spanish Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares admitted to journalists in the Madrid Parliament on Wednesday that since the expulsion of the Russian diplomats Countermeasures by Moscow expected in early April.
Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi responded on Wednesday by saying: “The expulsion of the Italian diplomats must not lead to the disruption of diplomatic channels, because if you want to achieve peace, you have to achieve it through these diplomatic channels.” At a press conference after meeting Finnish Prime Minister Sanna Marin in Rome, Draghi described Moscow’s move as a “hostile initiative”. Diplomatic relations between Italy and Russia however, should not be interrupted.
Source: Nachrichten
