Russian foreign minister Sergey Lavrov said that Moscow will order 10 US diplomats to leave Russia in a retaliatory response to the US sanctions.
Mr Lavrov also said that Moscow will add eight US officials to its sanctions list and move to restrict and stop the activities of US non-governmental organisations from interfering in Russia’s politics.
He added that while Russia has a possibility to take “painful measures” against US business in Russia, it would not immediately move to do that
The moves follow a barrage of new sanctions on Russia announced this week by the Biden administration.
The US on Thursday ordered 10 Russian diplomats expelled, targeted dozens of companies and people, and imposed new curbs on Russia’s ability to borrow money.
Pundits had predicted that while Moscow would respond in kind to the expulsions, it would refrain from any other significant moves to avoid a further escalation.
