Putin: US Must Cut 755 From Embassy After Sanctions

Russian President Vladimir Putin says the US embassy in Moscow will have to cut staff by 755 under new Russian sanctions, reports the AP. The move comes swiftly after the sanctions were overwhelmingly approved by Congress and the White House announced that President Trump intends to sign the legislation. The measure, which will limit Trump's ability to suspend sanctions, targets Russia for interfering in the 2016 US election and for military aggression in Ukraine and Syria.

According to the New York Post, Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said moving forward with such sanctions would cause retaliation. “We have a very rich toolbox at our disposal. It would be ridiculous on my part to start speculating on what may or may not happen?,” he said early Sunday on ABC’s This Week. “I can assure you that different options are on the table and consideration is being given to all sorts of things.” An official from the US Embassy in Moscow told the Post that there are currently around 1,100 diplomatic and support staff serving in Russia. (More Vladimir Putin stories.)