Russia will expel 60 US diplomats and close the US Consulate.

General in St. Petersburg, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said on Thursday.

"US Ambassador to Russia Jon Huntsman has been summoned to our ministry, where my deputy Sergei Ryabkov is briefing him on the tit-for-tat steps against the US," he said.

"They include the expulsion of the same number of diplomats and our decision to withdraw consent to the work of the Consulate General in St. Petersburg."

US representatives should fully move out of the building of the Consulate General in St Petersburg not later than Saturday, March 31, the Russian Foreign Ministry said.

Aida AYSA,

“Khalg gazeti”