Russia expels Swedish diplomats in tit-for-tat move
Russia's Foreign Ministry has ordered the expulsion of three Swedish diplomats in retaliation for a similar move taken by Stockholm over the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.
In a statement released on Tuesday, the ministry said it had summoned Sweden's ambassador, Malena Mard, and handed her a note about the expulsion of the three Swedish diplomats from Moscow.
The step was taken in response to the expulsion of three Russian diplomats from Stockholm and Sweden's military support for Ukraine, it added.
Sweden expelled the three Russian diplomats on April 5, accusing them of "not working in accordance with the Vienna convention."
The Russian ministry also accused Sweden of "covering up the crimes of Ukrainian nationalists against the civilian population of Donbass," Ukraine's Russian-speaking region.
Sweden's Foreign Minister Ann Linde said that a total of four diplomats, three from the embassy in Moscow and another at the Swedish consulate in Saint Petersburg, had been expelled. However, she claimed the Swedish diplomats expelled had conducted "traditional diplomatic activities."
"Sweden will respond in an appropriate manner to Russia's unwarranted and disproportionate actions," Linde said.
In recent weeks, tensions between Russia and Europe over the Ukraine crisis have taken a new turn, with Europe announcing the expulsion of Russian diplomats and Moscow warning the move will worsen ties. In early April, Italy, Denmark, Spain, Sweden, and a number of other European countries expelled a total of more than 70 Russian diplomats.
The Kremlin at the time called the mass expulsions of the Russian diplomats a "short-sighted move" that would only complicate communication.
The Russian military offensive against Ukraine was announced on February 24. The conflict has provoked a unanimous response from Western countries, which have imposed a long list of sanctions on Moscow. Russia says it will halt the operation instantly if Kiev meets Moscow's list of demands, including never applying to join NATO.
United Nations (UN) Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called for a ceasefire in Ukraine at a meeting with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov in the Russian capital, Moscow, on Tuesday.
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