Lavrov: Russia to expel 10 American diplomats and considering 'painful' measures aimed at US businesses

RT
Fri, 16 Apr 2021 15:44 UTC

© Reuters/Michael Dalder

Russia's FM Sergey Lavrov meets then-US VP Joe Biden in February 2013.

Ten US diplomats will have to leave Russia in response to Washington's expelling of Russian diplomats, Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has said, adding that Moscow is looking at other sanction options if unfriendly steps continue.

Lavrov announced the news at a press conference on Friday, adding that Moscow would ban US funds and NGOs from interfering in Russia's internal affairs. Lavrov added that, with the US currently employing 450 diplomatic staff in Russia, and Russia employing 350 in the US, "the Americans will be asked to bring the number of employees in Russia in line with the number of Russians in the United States," should relations between the two countries sour further.

Lavrov also said that Russia had the opportunity to inflict "painful measures" on US businesses, but would not take action at this time.

A day before Lavrov's announcement, US President Joe Biden signed a decree sanctioning more than 30 Russian individuals and organizations for allegedly interfering in the 2020 presidential election and for supposed involvement in last year's SolarWinds cyber-espionage case. Russia vehemently denies both allegations. Biden also ordered 10 Russian diplomats to leave the US, and banned American companies from directly buying shares in Russia's national debt.

Russia's retaliation was expected. Earlier on Friday, President Vladimir Putin's spokesman, Dmitry Peskov, told reporters that Russia would respond with "reciprocity," but dismissed the impact of the sanctions. Russia's economic stability, he said, is "fully ensured."

Prior to the tit-for-tat exchange, the Biden administration touted a potential meeting between Biden and Putin in Europe this summer. While the sanctions and expulsions have apparently wiped that summit from the calendar, Biden held a press conference on Thursday evening, in which he called for "dialogue and diplomatic process" with Russia, and defended his sanctions order as "proportionate."

Shortly before Biden announced his sanctions, Peskov told reporters that any proposed summit wouldn't be possible, at least in the short term. Biden was still optimistic on Thursday evening, however, saying that his administration was still working to meet Putin "this summer in Europe."

Comment: Tulsi Gabbard weighs in on hostilities between Russia and Ukraine:

Unless the world wants to see loved ones "burned alive in a nuclear holocaust," politicians should cut out the "macho" act and begin to deescalate. That's according to former US congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard, a US Army veteran. American people must decide if they're willing to go to war with Russia on behalf of Ukraine. If not - the rhetoric must be toned down.

According to Gabbard, it would be a disaster if a war kicks off in Ukraine. In particular, she highlighted the "thousands of nuclear weapons" Moscow and Washington have aimed at each other, warning that "hundreds of millions" could die and suffer if a war kicks off.

According to the former congresswoman, a war between the US and Russia would lead to the "end of the world as we know it," and she called for American President Joe Biden to stop imposing sanctions and escalating tensions. "If he doesn't, it's not a question of if we go to war with Russia, or if this war ends up with a nuclear holocaust, but it really is then just a question of when."

Tensions between Moscow and Washington escalate on other fronts:

A US Air Force reconnaissance plane flying in international airspace has been shadowed through the skies by a Russian fighter pilot off the country's Pacific coast, Ministry of Defense officials in Moscow confirmed on Friday.

A spokesperson for the department revealed that the Russian MiG-31 jet "took off from an airfield in Kamchatka to identify [the American plane] and accompany it. The fighter pilot identified the target as a strategic reconnaissance aircraft RC-135."

The ministry confirmed that the spy plane, equipped with high-tech reconnaissance equipment, had not violated the border and was escorted along its flight path. After the US pilot set a course away from the Russian mainland, the fighter disengaged, reports say.

What's up with the 'Ukraine-Russia War'?

Lots of heavy stuff moving in Russia; especially big artillery systems: 2S4 heavy mortars, 2S7 long-range guns and Iskanders. (Powerful counter-battery fire would be both effective and semi-deniable).

Stockpiles of equipment near Voronezh. Two armies (corps) plus airborne formations (probably more than NATO could field anywhere in real life; certainly never as quickly).

What most impressed were ships from the Caspian Sea Flotilla being transferred via the Volga-Don Canal. Never forget that the really important stuff is not visible - the Russians are the best at operational-level deception.

A Ukrainian convoy by comparison - pathetic mix of civilian vehicles and elderly APCs. (Incredibly, despite all the genuine videos, CNN still fakes it.) NATO huffs and puffs; Blinken ditto; Berlin throws some cold water on Kiev. Ritter calls Kiev's "NATO fantasy" a "suicide pill".

AND THEN AGAIN, MAYBE NOT.

Just reported that the two US warships will not enter the Black Sea; they are presently moored in Crete. Kiev changes its tune. Maybe the war hawks got the message: Moscow is determined, willing and more than capable.