On February 17, local time, a spokesman for the U.S. Embassy in Russia told the Russian news agency that Russia had deported Bart Gorman, deputy director of the U.S. Embassy in Russia. A State Department spokesman later confirmed the matter.
The Russian Foreign Ministry said on the same day that U.S. Ambassador to Russia John Sullivan had received a written response from Russia to Russia's previous response to the U.S. response to the issue of security and security. The 11-page written response, published on the website of the Russian Foreign Ministry, stressed that if the United States cannot meet russia's security demands, it will be forced to respond, including military and technical measures.
US President Joe Biden made the latest statement on the situation in Ukraine on the 17th, insisting that the possibility of Russia's "invasion" of Ukraine is still "very high", but the door to a diplomatic solution is still open.
Screenshot of the Russian news agency report
Jason P. Rebholz, a spokesman for the U.S. Embassy in Russia, said the U.S. government believed the move was unreasonable and called on Russia to "stop the unjustified expulsion of U.S. diplomats." Because Gorman had a valid visa for three years, and he had been in Russia for less than three years.
He stressed to RIA RIA THAT the US side regarded Russia's expulsion of Gorman as an "escalation step" and was considering the possibility of a response.
A State Department spokesman later confirmed the matter. The spokesman said: "We call on Russia to stop the baseless expulsion of American diplomats and staff ... Now more than ever, it is more important that the two countries have the necessary diplomats to facilitate communication between the two governments. ”
According to public information, Gorman is the deputy director of the US Embassy in Russia, known by the US media as the "second diplomat" of the US Embassy in Russia, responsible for handling key issues in US-Russian relations.
Gorman, deputy director of the U.S. Embassy in Russia
According to Russia's TASS news agency, the Russian Foreign Ministry website released news on the same day that John Sullivan, the US ambassador to Russia, has received a written reply from Russia to the previous response of the United States to the issue of security and security.
Reuters said that Sullivan received a written reply from the Russian side at the Russian Foreign Ministry, stayed for a while, and did not accept an interview with reporters. A senior State Department official said the United States had received a response from Russia.
At present, the 11-page written reply has been published on the website of the Russian Foreign Ministry.
The Russian side said the increasing military activities of the United States and NATO near the Russian border are worrying, while Russia's "red lines" and core security interests, as well as Russia's sovereign right to protect those interests, continue to be ignored.
Russia stressed that if the United States and its allies are unwilling to agree on a firm legally binding guarantee of Russian security, Russia will be forced to respond, including by implementing military-technical measures.
Screenshot of TASS report
On January 26, the United States and NATO submitted a written response to Russia, rejecting Russia's "red line" of NATO's non-eastward expansion.
On January 27, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov criticized the fact that Western countries are trying to avoid the commitments they have made, and that Russia will respond further after judging. Jabarov, first vice chairman of the International Affairs Committee of the Russian Federation Council, responded strongly, saying that the response of the United States and NATO shows that the United States is ready to directly clash with Russia and engage in a global confrontation.
As early as last year, the diplomatic relations between the United States and Russia were at an impasse. In Response, the Russian Foreign Ministry summoned the deputy director of the US Embassy in Russia and submitted a diplomatic note to him on the grounds that "Russia interfered in the US election" and expelled 10 Russian diplomats; in response, the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs summoned the deputy director of the US Embassy in Russia and submitted a diplomatic note to him, declaring 10 US diplomats unwelcome and asking them to leave the country within a time limit.
Relations between Russia and the U.S.-led West have become more tense in recent months as the situation in Ukraine has deteriorated.
At present, the Russian-Ukrainian border is "sword-rattling." The US media hyped that Russia "will invade Ukraine on the 16th", and Russia made many clarifications, saying that there was no plan to "invade Ukraine" and calling the Western public opinion speculation "war propaganda".
On this occasion, the Russian Defense Ministry said on February 15 that with the "completion of military exercises", some troops deployed on the Russian-Ukrainian border are returning to their regular positions. On the 17th, Russian media reported that Ukrainian government forces opened fire on the Russian-Ukrainian border 5 times, and the Ukrainian military denied it.
On the 17th local time, US President Biden made the latest statement on the situation in Ukraine. He said the likelihood of a Russian "invasion" of Ukraine remained "very high," but the door to a diplomatic solution remained open.
According to Reuters, Biden told reporters present that according to the evidence held by the US government, Russia is "ready to enter Ukraine". He also denied having plans to have a phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Asked about the possibility of a Russian "invasion," Biden said, "very high." But he added that a diplomatic solution is still possible, which is why he asked Secretary of State Blinken to travel to the United Nations to make a statement.
Source: Observer Network
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