Ukraine invasion: US to expel 12 Russian diplomats over ‘espionage activities’

The United States says it has commenced the process to expel 12 Russian diplomats from New York.

The 12 diplomats are expected to leave the United States by March 7.

In a statement issued on Monday, Olivia Dalton, spokesperson of the US mission to the United Nations, said the 12 intelligence operatives “abused their privileges of residency in the United States by engaging in espionage activities that are adverse to our national security”.

The development was also confirmed by Richard Mills, US deputy ambassador, after Russia’s UN ambassador, Vassily Nebenzia, told the UN security council that he had just been informed of “yet another hostile step undertaken by the host country” against the Russian mission.

Nebenzia described the US expulsion a “gross violation” of the UN agreement with the United States as the host of the United Nations and of the Vienna Convention governing diplomatic relations.

Earlier on Monday, the 193-member United Nations General Assembly began an emergency meeting on the crisis in Ukraine ahead of a vote to demand Russian troops stop fighting and withdraw.

The general assembly will vote this week on a draft resolution similar to a text vetoed by Russia in the 15-member security council on Friday.

No country has a veto in the general assembly and Western diplomats expect the resolution, which needs two-third support, to be adopted.