President Trump on Monday ordered the expulsion of 60
Russian intelligence officers in the United States and the closure of the
Russian consulate in Seattle in response to the nerve agent attack on an
ex-Russian spy in the U.K. earlier this month, senior administration officials
said.
The steps, following Britain's expulsion of Russian
diplomats, are meant to send a message to Moscow that actions have
consequences, the officials said. The Seattle consulate is being closed because
of its proximity to submarine bases, as well as Boeing.
“With these steps, the United States and our allies and
partners make clear to Russia that its actions have consequences,” White House
press secretary Sarah Sanders said. “The United States stands ready to
cooperate to build a better relationship with Russia, but this can only happen
with a change in the Russian government’s behavior.”
Russia, which has been blamed for the attack, has denied
wrongdoing.
Officials said a total of 60 Russians are being expelled,
including 48 at the Russian embassy and 12 at the United Nations. The
individuals and their families have been given seven days to leave the United
States.
"Today, the United States began the process of
expelling 12 intelligence operatives from the Russian Mission to the United
Nations who have abused their privilege of residence in the United
States," UN Ambassador Nikki Haley said Monday. "After a review, we
have determined that the 12 intelligence operatives engaged in espionage
activities that are adverse to our national security."
Officials said the president made the decision after
several intelligence meetings last week, and was continuously briefed about the
process over the weekend.
The administration had said it was considering a range of
“options” in response to the March 4 poisoning of ex-Russian spy Sergei Skripal
and his daughter.
They were apparently poisoned with a Soviet-produced,
military-grade nerve agent and remain unconscious and in critical condition.
At a summit in Brussels, the 28 EU leaders agreed with
Britain that it is "highly likely" Russia is responsible for the
attack on Skripal and his daughter, Yulia.
Trump previously joined British Prime Minister Theresa
May and the leaders of France and Germany in condemning the poisoning.
"It is an assault on UK sovereignty and any such use
by a state party is a clear violation of the Chemical Weapons Convention and a
breach of international law. It threatens the security of us all,” they said in
a joint statement.
They also wrote “there is no plausible alternative
explanation” for the attack and that the Kremlin’s failure to respond to a
legitimate request for an explanation “further underlines its
responsibility."
Russia has fiercely denied any involvement in the
poisoning, saying that it had destroyed its chemical weapons and had no motive
to kill Skripal, who was convicted of spying for Britain but released in a 2010
spy swap. Still, Moscow has in turn ordered 23 British diplomats to leave.
The EU’s position follows May sharing with group leaders
information about why Britain is convinced Moscow was behind the attack,
including the type of poison used -- a Soviet-developed nerve agent known as
Novichok -- and intelligence that Russia has produced it within the past
decade.
Fox News’ Joseph Weber, Rich Edson, John
Roberts and Lucia Suarez and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
