Italian Foreign Minister Luigi Di Maio speaks during a news conference following talks with his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov February 17, 2022 in Moscow, Russia. REUTERS/Shamil Zhumatov/Pool
ROME, April 5 – Italy has expelled 30 Russian diplomats over security concerns, Foreign Minister Luigi Di Maio said on Tuesday, and Russia is set to retaliate, according to TASS.
A number of other Western governments have taken similar steps following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Italy called the Russian ambassador to the Foreign Ministry on Tuesday to inform him that the diplomats would be expelled.
“The measure is in agreement with other European and Atlantic partners and is necessary for reasons related to our national security and related to the current crisis caused by the Russian Federation’s unjustified aggression against Ukraine,” Di Maio said a statement.
Russia will provide an appropriate response, the TASS news agency quoted Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova as saying.
Reporting by Angelo Amante Writing by Keith Weir Editing by Agnieszka Flak