Dutch, Belgian, and Austrian diplomats have been expelled Russia
Key Takeaways:
- On Tuesday, Russia removed Dutch and Belgian diplomats from the country, giving them two weeks to depart.
- Despite facing widespread condemnation for initiating the military attack, President Putin has described it as a vital step in the process of 'de-nazifying' Ukraine.
Russia expelled Dutch and Belgian diplomats from its territory on Tuesday, giving them a two-week deadline to leave. The move was retribution for Belgium and the Netherlands, which expelled 38 Russian diplomats in a coordinated action late last month in response to Moscow's ongoing invasion of Ukraine, which began on February 24.
Russia's foreign ministry revealed that up to 15 Dutch diplomats had been designated as 'persona non grata.' However, the government did not say how many members of the Belgian embassy in Moscow were ordered to leave.
On March 29, Belgian Foreign Minister Sophie Wilmes reported that Russia's embassy in Brussels and consulate in Antwerp had asked 21 staff members to leave, while the Netherlands had ordered 17 Russian diplomats to depart. Russia had warned that in response to the combined move, it would follow the 'principle of reciprocity.'
Meanwhile, Austrian ambassadors were requested to leave on Tuesday by the Kremlin, despite Austrian chancellor Karl Nehammer meeting Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow last week, making him the first European leader to meet Putin since the Ukrainian conflict.
By April 24, four Austrian envoys had been requested to leave.
Meanwhile, action is expected against Germany and France, which each returned 40 Russian envoys.
Several western countries, including European states and the United States, have retaliated against Russia for its involvement in the Ukraine conflict, including sanctions and/or the expulsion of Russian diplomats.
Despite receiving harsh criticism for starting the military attack, President Putin has defended it as a necessary step to 'de-nazify' Ukraine.