With Russia’s invasion of Ukraine the center of attention at the United Nations, the United States said Monday that it would expel 12 Russian diplomats from Moscow’s U.N. mission, saying they were actually intelligence operatives who had spied on the United States.
“We are beginning the process of expelling 12 intelligence operatives from the Russian Mission who have abused their privileges of residency in the United States by engaging in espionage activities that are adverse to our national security,” the U.S. mission to the U.N. said in a statement.
Russia could respond with “tit for tat,” meaning expulsion of Americans, its U.N. ambassador, Vasily Nebenzya, told reporters.
“It’s not our choice,” he said. “We didn’t initiate it.”
Mr. Nebenzya — who learned of the expulsions when he received a phone call during a news conference — said the Russian diplomats had been given until March 7 to leave the United States.
The move is part of a larger effort to isolate Russia diplomatically and economically since it invaded Ukraine last week. Many countries have imposed economic sanctions on Russian officials and entities, corporations are exiting business deals with Russia, and some Russians are being barred from sporting and cultural events.
The U.N. General Assembly convened a rare emergency special session on Monday that was expected to continue on Tuesday and Wednesday because a long list of countries wanted to speak. Western countries speaking on Monday…
