The Trump administration United States has ordered the expulsion of 60 Russian diplomats and the closure of a consulate in Seattle.
The United States has joined governments across Europe to punish the Kremlin after a former Russian spy was poisoned in England.
From Washington, Kate Fisher reports.
IN: "Its the strongest..." OUT: SOC DUR: 2'21 GENERIC: http://www.fsnradionews.com/feeds/0327-USRussiaDiplomats-kf-gen.mp3
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It's the strongest action to date for a President who has been criticised by political opponents and even member s of his own party for not taking a tough enough stance against Russia over allegations that they meddled in the US election campaign.
But now Twelve Russian intelligence officers in New York and 48 diplomats at the Russian embassy in Washington have been given seven days to leave the country.
The Russian consulate in Seattle will also be forced to close because of its proximity to a U.S. submarine base and defense contractor Boeing.
White House deputy press secretary Raj Shah:
"Today's actions make the United States safer by reducing Russia's ability to spy on Americans and to conduct covert operations and threaten America's national security. "
It is said to be the largest collective expulsion of Russian intelligence officers in history. More than 20 countries have aligned with the UK, expelling more than 100 diplomats.
The white house says id it was making it clear to russia that actions have consequences:
"Our relationship with Russia is frankly up to the Russian government and up to Vladimir Putin and others in senior leadership in Russia. We want to have a cooperative relationship. The president wants to work with Russia. But their actions sometimes don't allow that to happen. The poisoning in the UK that has kind of led to today's announcement was a very brazen action. It was a reckless action."
But Russian ambassador to the unites states, Anatoly Antonov says there will be little chance of cooperation now:
"What the United States of America is doing today - they are destroying what little remained of U.S.-Russian ties. I would add that all the responsibility for ruining Russian-American relations is on the United States of America."
Russia denies any role in the attack and has vowed to retaliate to what it's described as a provocative gesture.
But even as Trump's government steps up the pressure, the President himself has been unusually silent--he has yet to condemn Moscow personally.
Last week president Trump said he was making plane to meet president Putin in person but any such meeting is looking less and less likely as relations between Russia and the west continue to deteriorate.
Kate fisher sabc news, washington