Putin on a show: Russia’s UN ambassador halts press conference to take call informing him US is kicking out 12 Russian diplomats for SPYING – as foreign minister warns of consequences for nations supplying weapons to Ukraine
- US confirmed on Monday it was expelling 12 Russian diplomats
- The Russian ambassador to the UN revealed the details in theatrical style
- He halted a news conference on Ukraine so that he could take a phone call
- ‘US authorities have undertaken another hostile action,’ he said after the call
- The White House said the 12 were intelligence operatives from Russia
- They engaged ‘in espionage activities that are adverse to our national security’
The United States announced it was expelling 12 Russian diplomats at the United Nations for spying, as Washington steps up pressure on Moscow over its actions in Ukraine.
Details of the expulsions emerged in theatrical style when the Russian ambassador to the United Nations halted a news conference.
‘Would you allow me just a second because I need to answer this call please,’ he said.
Vassily Nebenzia finished the call and turned back to journalists to say he had ‘just received information that the US authorities have undertaken another hostile action against the Russian Mission to the … United Nations.’
He said 12 people had been declared ‘persona non grata’ and told to leave by March 7.