April 27 2021 Since mid-April, Russia and the United States and Europe and other Western countries diplomatic expulsion war intensified, since the United States took the lead against Russia “difficult”, Poland, the Czech Republic and other central and eastern European countries followed closely behind, has expelled Russian diplomats, the Russian side also to fight back, and even increase the size of the counterattack.
On the 26th, a new wave of diplomatic expulsions, NATO country Romania joined the “camp” against Russia, the same day Russia against Italy and Ukraine to take measures to expel diplomats. Analysts say the diplomatic expulsion war continues or exacerbates tensions between Russia and the West.
The United States and NATO six countries “against” Russia
The diplomatic expulsion war is intensifying
On April 15th, Russia’s diplomatic expulsion war with the United States and Europe and other Western countries “opened the curtain” and intensified.
In the first wave, the United States took the lead in “making trouble” against Russia, announcing the expulsion of Russian diplomats, Poland, Ukraine, the Czech Republic and other central and eastern European countries within seven days of the seven countries quickly “follow up”, the Russian side is to fight back with teeth, and even increase the size of the code.
The United States announced the expulsion of 10 Russian diplomats on the 15th, Russia subsequently expelled 10 U.S. diplomats. However, Russia has only responded diplomatically to the United States, with more foreign diplomats from those countries expelled from Poland, the first country to “show solidarity” with the United States, and the Czech Republic, the “troublemaker” who accused Russia of involvement in the bombing of the Czech arms depot.
Poland expelled three Russian diplomats, Russia expelled five on the “plus 2”, the Czech Republic expelled 18 Russian diplomats, Russia expelled 20 people, and even limited departure time to 24 hours.
The Czech Republic said “unconvinced”, the Czech Embassy than the Russian Embassy “body size” is much smaller, the Russian Embassy in the Czech Republic to reduce the number of 18 people may not have much impact, but the Czech Republic a little less than 20 people, the Embassy can not function properly, will be paralysed. The Czech Republic urged Russia to allow expelled diplomats to return to Russia and issued an ultimatum.
Russia went straight back, saying it was not “the kind of country that can accept an ultimatum from another country” and “keep your ultimatum for use within NATO.” ”
Immediately after, the Czech Republic’s central and eastern European allies within NATO, Slovakia and the Baltic countries Estonia, Lithuania and Latvia have “jumped out” to show solidarity with the Czech Republic, Russia will not be soft on this. Estonia and Latvia each decided to expel one Russian diplomat, Lithuania expelled two, and Russia’s attitude was “You wait!” and responded that “their diplomats may have begun to understand who has to pack their bags.”
The first wave of Russian and Western expulsions, the movement is relatively large, mainly the United States “got up”, and then these new European countries in Central and Eastern Europe, but also nato members “stormed”, Britain, Germany, France, Italy and other major European countries did not join.
With teeth for teeth, Russia counter-attacks “full of firepower”
Relations between Russia and the West may be strained again
When the Russian Foreign Ministry responded to the response to the three Baltic states on the 23rd, the outside world thought that this round of intensive diplomatic expulsion war will be put to a temporary end, did not expect that three days later, a new wave of diplomatic expulsion war was “staged”.
On the one hand, the NATO country Romania has joined in the expulsion of Russian diplomats, on the other hand, Russia has not hesitated to seek the March expulsion of Russian diplomats in Italy “old accounts”, and then to Ukraine to pay counter-measures.
On the 26th, the Romanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement saying that Alexei Gresayev, deputy military attache of the Russian Embassy in Romania, had declared him an “undesirable person” in violation of the relevant provisions of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations. The Russian Foreign Ministry responded directly, “You are well aware of the procedures for the Russian response.”
On the same day, Russia also responded to Italy’s expulsion of Russian diplomats in March. Russia has declared an assistant military attache at the Italian Embassy in Russia an “undesirable person” who has been restricted to 24 hours to leave the country. However, the Italian Foreign Ministry said the Russian decision was groundless and unfair.
It turned out that, on 31 March this year, the Italian Gendarmerie Special Operations Group informed of the arrest of a naval officer of the country and a military attache of the Russian Embassy in Italy, who had been charged with espionage and endangering national security. Since then, Italy has announced the expulsion of two Russian diplomats. Italy considers this to be a legitimate action to safeguard its own security interests.
Also on the 26th, Russia again responded to Ukraine by declaring a staff member of the Ukrainian Embassy in Russia an “undesirable person” who had been allowed to leave the country by April 30. Russia believes that this is a requisite response to Ukraine’s previous actions. If the Ukrainian side takes further hostile action against the staff of the Russian embassy and consulate in Uzbekistan, the Russian side will take further countermeasures against the Ukrainian side on the basis of reequisition.
Recently, Russia and the United States and Europe and other Western countries staged a diplomatic expulsion war, but also at a time of tension in Ukraine, Ukrainian President Zelenko has previously extended an olive branch to Putin to ease the situation in the east, hoping to meet with Putin, but from Russia’s diplomatic counter-measures against Ukraine, Russia’s attitude towards Ukraine remains “tough.”
Even in the face of the U.S., Russia is directly “talking hard” and Moscow is prepared to do more if the U.S. continues to escalate sanctions. Some analysts say a new round of diplomatic expulsions could lead to further tensions between Russia and the West.
