18 nations expel 100 Russian diplomats over UK spy attack

In the seemingly largest collective expulsion of Russian "intelligence officers" in history, eighteen countries are expelling around 100 Russian diplomats in a coordinated response to the poisoning of a former Russian spy in the United Kingdom (UK) earlier this month.

US President Donald Trump ordered 60 Russian diplomats his country considers spies to leave the country in response to the nerve-agent poisoning of a former Russian spy in the UK and closed Russia's consulate in Seattle, senior administration officials said Monday.

Further, fourteen European Union countries announced they were expelling a total of 30 Russian diplomats in a coordinated international response, which is the biggest Western expulsion of Russian diplomats since the height of the Cold War.

Australia also announced that it would expel two Russian diplomats over the UK spy attack.The expulsions are the most aggressive US move against Russia under Trump, who has sought a closer personal relationship with President Vladimir Putin while at the same time introducing new sanctions against people and entities with ties to the Kremlin.

The officials called the March 4 poisoning of Sergei Skripal and his daughter in Salisbury, England, an attack on America’s closest ally and a reckless attempt to murder a British citizen on British soil. They said there are more than 100 Russian intelligence agents undercover as diplomats in the US and described the number as unacceptable.

In total, 100 Russian diplomats are being expelled from 18 countries, reported Reuters. The report added that this was the biggest Western expulsion of Russian diplomats since the height of the Cold War.

The UK government Monday hailed the largest collective expulsion of Russian "intelligence officers" in history.

In a House of Commons statement, British Prime Minister Theresa May said that 18 countries have announced their intention to expel more than 100 Russian intelligence officers from their countries, including 15 European Union member states as well as the US, Canada and the Ukraine.

"This is the largest collective expulsion of Russian intelligence officers in history... together we have sent a message that we will not tolerate Russias continued attempts to flout international law and undermine our values," May said.

The UK had found "great solidarity" from allies around the world over the attempted murders of Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia with a deadly Russian-made nerve agent in Salisbury on March 4.

"President Putins regime is carrying out acts of aggression against our shared values and interests within our continent and beyond. And as a sovereign European democracy, the United Kingdom will stand shoulder to shoulder with the EU and with NATO to face down these threats together," she said.