Summary:
What is being seen as a major setback in friendly relations between Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin after Putin has asked United States of America to cut its embassy and consulate staff in Russia by 755 under new sanctions from Moscow.
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What is being seen as a major setback in friendly relations between Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin after Putin has asked United States of America to cut its embassy and consulate staff in Russia by 755 under new sanctions from Moscow.
The diplomatic tit-for-tat started under former US President Barack Obama.
In response to reports of Russian meddling in the 2016 presidential election, Obama ordered the expulsion of 35 Russian diplomats and shut down two Russian recreational retreats in the US.
The State Department has declined to provide an exact number of American diplomats or other US officials in Russia, but the figure is believed to be about 400.
Russian`s Foreign Ministry on had ordered a reduction by Sept 1 and stated US Embassy should limit the number of embassy and consular employees in the country to 455 in response to approval of a new package of sanctions by the US Congress.
The White House has said US President Donald Trump would sign those sanctions into law.
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