According to RIA Novosti, Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova said Moscow expelled about 20 German diplomats on Saturday.
A German Foreign Ministry official claimed Berlin and Moscow discussed removing Russia’s intelligence presence in Germany.
“Today’s Russian embassy staff departure is related,” the official stated. However, German authorities wouldn’t specify how many Russian diplomats fled.
Since Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022 and the West responded with sanctions and weaponry, Germany, Russia’s biggest oil and gas importer, has had deteriorating ties.
The Russian Foreign Ministry remarked, “We strongly condemn these actions by Berlin, which continues to demonstratively destroy the entire array of Russian-German relations.”
“Reciprocal” expulsions would drastically diminish German diplomatic post staff.
Germany’s ambassador was informed on April 5.
Bild reported 34 German diplomats were dismissed from Moscow.
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