UK must bring home ‘just over 50’ of its diplomats from Russia: Foreign ministry

Russia has already retaliated in kind against Britain and ejected 23 British diplomats over the poisoning of former Russian spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia.

Russia has told Britain it must send home “just over 50” more of its diplomats in a worsening standoff with the West over the poisoning of a former Russian spy and his daughter in Britain.

British ambassador to Russia Laurie Bristow leaves the Russian Foreign Ministry headquarters in Moscow on March 30, 2018. Russia had summoned the ambassadors of a number of nations including Britain, France, Germany and Canada to inform them of retaliatory measures after a coordinated campaign by the UK and its allies over a nerve agent attack on a former spy. (AFP Photo)

Russia has already retaliated in kind against Britain and ejected 23 British diplomats over the poisoning of former Russian spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia. London says Moscow stood behind the attack, something Russia denies.

British Ambassador Laurie Bristow was summoned again on Friday and told London had one month to cut its diplomatic contingent in Russia to the same size as the Russian mission in Britain.

On Saturday, Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova told Reuters that meant Britain would have to cut “a little over 50” of its diplomats in Russia.

“We asked for parity. The Brits have 50 diplomats more than the Russians,” said Zakharova.

When asked if that meant London would have to bring home exactly 50 diplomats, she said: “A little over 50.”