Russia hits US for ‘blunt act of hostility’ in closure of diplomatic facilities

Russia on Sunday characterized the Trump administration’s order that Moscow close a consulate in San Francisco and two diplomatic annexes as a “blunt act of hostility.”

“We urge American authorities to change their minds and return Russian diplomatic facilities immediately,” the Russian foreign ministry said on its website, according to Reuters.

{mosads}The Trump administration last week ordered that the three properties be closed.

The move was framed as a response “in the spirit of parity” after the Russian government ordered the U.S. to reduce the number of its diplomatic personnel in Russia.

“The United States has fully implemented the decision by the government of the Russian Federation to reduce the size of our mission in Russia,” State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert said at the time.

“We believe this action was unwarranted and detrimental to the overall relationship between our countries.”

A senior administration official told reporters following the announcement of the facilities’ closure that its goal was to “find a way to get better relations between our two countries.”