Britain and Russia Lock Horns as Moscow Cuts UK Diplomats

Britain and Russia Lock Horns as Moscow Cuts UK Diplomats
British Ambassador to Russia Laurie Bristow leaves the Russian foreign ministry building in Moscow, Russia March 30, 2018. Reuters/Maxim Shemetov/File Photo
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MOSCOW–Moscow has told Britain it must cut just over 50 more of its diplomatic and technical staff in Russia as a standoff deepened over the poisoning of a Russian former spy and his daughter in England, the Russian Foreign Ministry said on Saturday.

Moscow also demanded an official explanation for the search of a Russian passenger plane in London, saying it reserved the right to act similarly against British airlines in Russia. Britain said the search was routine.