If Western countries continue to expel Russian diplomats, Moscow won’t rule out the possibility of severing diplomatic ties with them, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Wednesday. He described the recent wave of expulsions as “closing the window” for continued diplomatic relations.
“There is such a potential risk, since every day we are faced with such hostile actions. The expulsion of diplomats is a decision that closes the window of diplomatic relations,” the spokesman for Russian President Vladimir Putin told the French TV channel LCI, when asked if Moscow would consider breaking off ties after many of its diplomats were declared persona non grata in NATO capitals.
Italy, Spain, and Denmark expelled a total of 70 Russian diplomats on Tuesday, following Monday’s decision by Germany and France to exile 35 and 40, respectively.
These expulsions were ordered after images of civilians allegedly killed in the town of Bucha, northwest of Kiev, were released by the Ukrainian government and Western media. Kiev has accused the withdrawing Russian troops of massacring civilians in what it claimed to be an act of genocide. Moscow denied the allegations and said Ukraine and its foreign backers were waging a fake news campaign.