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Moscow warns its patience with US over diplomatic property seizure running out

The Russian personnel’s access to the diplomatic compounds was restricted on December 30, 2016
Russian president’s press secretary Dmitry Peskov Mikhail Metzel/TASS
Russian president’s press secretary Dmitry Peskov
© Mikhail Metzel/TASS

MOSCOW, July 3. /TASS/. Moscow’s patience with Washington is running out, since the US has been dragging its feet on Russia’s confiscated diplomatic property. Nevertheless, it is up to the foreign ministry to decide when to impose tit-for-tat measures, Russian Presidential Spokesman Dmitry Peskov said.

"As a rule, we have spoken about the principle of reciprocity. As for Russia’s patience on that matter, it is running out, that has also been mentioned at various levels. As for nuances, this is rather a matter for our foreign ministry," Peskov told journalists when asked if Russia’s response could come before or after a meeting between the two countries’ presidents.

In late December 2016, the Obama administration slapped new sanctions on Russia declaring 35 staff members of the Russian Embassy in Washington and the Consulate General in San Francisco persona-non-grata and closing two Russian compounds in the States of New York and Maryland.

The Russian personnel’s access to these compounds was restricted on December 30. Washington linked these sanctions to some alleged cyber attacks against US political institutions, and consequently blaming Russia for carrying out these incidents.