Britain denies that expelled Russian diplomats would be allowed to return
British representatives refuted the statement made by the Russian Ambassador in London, Alexander Yakovenko, that allegedly the two countries agreed to gradually restore dozens of diplomats to their positions, expelled by both sides after the poisoning of Sergei and Yulia Skripal in Salisbury.
“No new agreements have been made. Our position regarding Russian diplomatic presence in the UK has not changed after measures were taken after Salisbury. Work of our respective missions occurs in the framework of these limits,” said the UK embassy representative in Moscow, as quoted by Radio Svoboda.
Russia’s Ambassador to the UK, Alexander Yakovenko, on December 28th said that Moscow and London reached an agreement on the gradual restoration of the number of diplomatic representatives in the UK and the Russian Federation starting in January 2019.
In March, Britain announced the expulsion of 23 diplomats from Russia because of the poisoning of Sergei and Yulia Skripal in Salisbury. Later, more than 20 world countries synchronously announced the expulsion of Russian diplomats. Russia responded with mirror measures.