‘Whoever proposes such steps, apparently, seeks the closure of US diplomatic missions in Russia. They should be aware that the responsibility for this will fall on them,’ the letter underlined.

Russian diplomatic service clarified that there are not as many Russian diplomats in Washington. ‘Or US congressmen, who do not have adequate knowledge in international relations, also counted the Russian diplomatic staff working at the permanent mission to the UN?’

Earlier, a group of US senators asked President Joe Biden to take immediate steps on increasing the number of US diplomats in Russia and in the event of refusing by Moscow to expel 300 Russian diplomats from the United States.

pgh/Pll/jha / mml