US expels 60 Russian diplomats

The White House said the diplomats were expelled in response to the poisoning of a former Russian spy in the UK.

The US also announced the closure of the Russian consulate in Seattle. 

White House press secretary Sarah Sanders said in a statement: "Today President Donald J. Trump ordered the expulsion of dozens of Russian intelligence officers from the United States and the closure of the Russian consulate in Seattle due to its proximity to one of our submarine bases and Boeing."

"The United States takes this action in conjunction with our NATO allies and partners around the world in response to Russia’s use of a military-grade chemical weapon on the soil of the United Kingdom, the latest in its ongoing pattern of destabilizing activities around the world," she said.

Speaking further on the decision taken by the US, Sanders said: "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."

Russia has denied its involvement in the attack on Sergei Skripal and his daughter in England.

Both are undergoing treatment at a hospital.

The move has been made by the US just days after its President Donald Trump called Russian President Vladimir Putin over his re-election.

As per officials, Trump congratulated his Russian counterpart in a telephone call this month.

Sergei Skripal, 66, was born in Russia on 23 June 1951.

He joined the elite Soviet airborne troop known as the Desantniki and travelled to Afghanistan.

Following his stint in Afghanistan, Skripal graduated from Diplomatic Military Academy in Moscow.

Later, he was picked up GRU - Russia's military intelligence, and worked for them as a spy.

Under cover as a diplomat, he travelled to Europe and worked as a spy.

In between 1980-1990, Skripal was allegedly approached by the UK intelligence and he is said to have turned a double agent.

In early 2000, he quit the GRU.

He was arrested for spying by Russian authorities in Dec 2004 and was sentenced 13 years in a labour camp.

According to reports, Skripal, a championship boxer in his youth, was equal to the task of settling scores with goons who were allegedly placed in the camp to rough him up.

In July 2010, he was released as part of a major spy swap.

In 2012, he lost his wife Liudmila to cancer.

Five years later, he lost his son Sasha, who died in St Petersburg.

His son's death is said to be suspicious.

The full text of Sarah Sander's statement is given below:

"Today President Donald J. Trump ordered the expulsion of dozens of Russian intelligence officers from the United States and the closure of the Russian consulate in Seattle due to its proximity to one of our submarine bases and Boeing. The United States takes this action in conjunction with our NATO allies and partners around the world in response to Russia’s use of a military-grade chemical weapon on the soil of the United Kingdom, the latest in its ongoing pattern of destabilizing activities around the world. 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. With these steps, the United States and our allies and partners make clear to Russia that its actions have consequences. 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."

(Trump's image from Facebook,Putin's image from Wikipedia/ Kremlin.ru)