Moscow has given two Australian diplomats a week to leave Russia in retaliation for Canberra booting out two of its spies.

In a joint statement on Saturday morning, Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull and Foreign Minister Julie Bishop said there is no justification for the expulsions by Russia.

"This is a disappointing, although not unexpected, reaction by the Russian Government to the decision of the Australian Government to expel two Russian diplomats working as undeclared intelligence officers," the statement said.

"Australia's action was in concert with 28 other nations expelling a total of 153 Russian diplomats in an unprecedented demonstration of global solidarity with the United Kingdom."

On Wednesday Ms Bishop announced two Russian spies had been given six days to leave Australia, in a show of solidarity with the UK over the poisoning of former double agent Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia in Salisbury.

Labor leader Bill Shorten supported the government's decision, calling it an appropriate and proportionate response.

"The Russian Government must understand there are real consequences for engaging in attacks on foreign soil and refusing to tell the truth about them," he said in a joint statement with Labor senator Penny Wong on Saturday.

"We have to act in the way that we believe is in Australia's national interest, and on this occasion that was sending a strong signal that we reject Russia's action and we stand with our friends and allies."

Australia's ambassador to Russia Peter Tesch was among the diplomats summoned to the Russian foreign ministry on Friday to be told of the expulsions.

The diplomatic mission in Moscow has 10 staff.

In total, Russia will expel 59 diplomats from 23 countries following on the expulsion of 23 British and 60 American diplomats earlier in the week. </s> Moscow will expel two Australian diplomats in retaliation for Canberra booting out two of its diplomats.

Australia's ambassador to Russia Peter Tesch was among the diplomats summoned to the Russian foreign ministry on Friday to be told of the expulsions.

The diplomatic mission in Moscow has 10 staff.

On Wednesday, Foreign Minister Julie Bishop had announced two Russian spies had been given six days to leave Australia, in a show of solidarity with the UK over the poisoning of former double agent Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia in Salisbury.

In total, Russia will expel 59 diplomats from 23 countries following on the expulsion of 23 British and 60 American diplomats earlier in the week. </s> Australia is the latest to announce their solidarity with the UK over the chemical attack on Mr Skripal and his daughter in Salisbury on March 4 as Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull announced Canberra would be expelling two Russian diplomats. Australia joins 21 other countries including the USA, Germany, France, Poland and Ukraine in expelling the Russian envoys. Donald Trump on Monday said the US would expel 60 Russian diplomats and close its Russian consulate in Seattle. More than 100 Russian diplomats have been expelled across Europe, the US and other parts of the world in the biggest Western expulsion of Russian diplomats since the height of the Cold War.

Mr Turnbull announced in a statement: “Together with the United Kingdom and other allies and partners, Australia is taking action in response to the recent nerve agent attack in Salisbury, UK. "Two Russian diplomats identified as undeclared intelligence officers will be expelled by the Australian government for actions inconsistent with their status, pursuant to the Vienna Conventions." Foreign Minister Julie Bishop said other options, such as Australia boycotting the 2018 World Cup in Russia, could also be taken over the poisoning incident. Ms Bishop told reporters in Canberra: "There are a whole range of further options of action that could be taken, the boycott of the World Cup is one of the further actions that could be taken in relation to this matter.”

Yesterday White House spokeman Raj Shah said: “The poisoning in the UK that has kind of led to today's announcement was a very brazen action. It was a reckless action. “The President wants to work with the Russians but their actions sometimes don't allow that to happen." Meanwhile, Germany’s foreign office in Berlin in a statement said: “We have expelled four Russian diplomats from Germany because after the poison attack in Salisbury Russia is still not contributing to solving what happened." Germany's foreign minister Heiko Maas added: "We did not make the decision to expel the Russian diplomats lightly. "With this we are also sending a sign of solidarity to Great Britain.

“Russia remains required to finally fulfil its responsibility to take up a constructive role and fulfil its duty to provide clarification." Boris Johnson responded on Twitter saying that Monday's "extraordinary international response by our allies stands in history as the largest collective expulsion of Russian intelligence officers ever and will help defend our shared security". Moscow has denied responsibility for the March 4 attack on Mr Skripal and his daughter, the first known offensive use of a nerve toxin in Europe since World War Two. The Russian ambassador to Washington hit back at the US explosions saying America was destroying what little is left of relations with Russia.

And the Russian foreign ministry in a statement blasted the countries who had “provocatively” chosen to stand in solidarity with London. The ministry said: "This provocative gesture of notorious solidarity with London, made by countries that preferred to follow in London's footsteps without bothering to look into other circumstances of the incident, merely continues the policy of escalating the confrontation." A Russian foreign ministry source also said Russia will respond to the EU countries who have expelled Moscow diplomats “symmetrically in the coming days”, according to state media. Before yesterday’s announcement Russian foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova launched a scathing attack on the EU over support for the “Brexit Britain” position that Moscow was “highly likely” behind the attack on Mr Skripal. </s> New Zealand has no plans to expel Russian diplomats in solidarity with a number of Western states in connection with the poisoning of former Russian spy Sergei Skripal in the United Kingdom, country's Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said on Tuesday.Ardern told Newstalk ZB broadcaster that the Russian diplomats , which will be expelled from these countries, were undeclared intelligence officers."We ran a check, we don't have those in New Zealand but if we did we would expel them," Ardern said as quoted by the broadcaster.US President Donald Trump, in particular, ordered the expulsion of 60 Russian diplomats, including 48 employees of the Russian Embassy and 12 people who have been assigned to the United Nations in New York, as well as the closure of the Russian Consulate in Seattle.A total of 16 EU countries, as well as the United States , Canada, Albania, Norway, Ukraine, Macedonia and Australia announced on Monday their decisions to expel about 100 Russian diplomats in connection with Moscow's alleged involvement in the nerve agent attack on Skripal and his daughter in the UK city of Salisbury.Skripal, a former GRU colonel and a double agent who worked for UK intelligence, and his daughter Yulia have been in hospital in a critical condition since March 4 due to exposure to what the UK experts say was a A234 nerve agent. UK Prime Minister Theresa May has accused Russia of orchestrating the attack and expelled 23 Russian diplomats, while the European Union has expressed its solidarity.The Russian side has strongly rejected the accusations and offered assistance in the investigation. Moscow's request for samples of the chemical substance used to poison Skripal was rejected. Moscow expelled UK diplomats in response and ordered the British Council to cease its activities in Russia. </s> Russia is to expel 60 US diplomats and has ordered the closure of the US consulate in St. Petersburg, Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said Thursday, in retaliation for a similar move by Washington.

Lavrov, making the announcement in Moscow, said the US ambassador Jon Huntsman had been summoned to the Foreign Ministry to be told of the decision.

The US expelled 60 diplomats on Monday as part of a coordinated global response to the poisoning of a former Russian double agent, Sergei Skripal, and his daughter, Yulia Skripal, in Britain. The British government blames Russia for using a military-grade nerve agent for the poisoning, in the English city of Salisbury on March 4.

More than 20 countries said they would expel more than 100 Russian diplomats over the case.

Russia has firmly denied responsibility and President Vladimir Putin has dismissed it as "delirium." Russia had already been engaged in a tit-for-tat with Britain, with both countries expelling 23 diplomats. </s> Police officers in protective suits and masks work near the scene where former double-agent Sergei Skripal and his daughter, Yulia were discovered after being attacked with a nerve-agent on March 16, 2018 in Salisbury, England. Jack Taylor/Getty Images
• Australia is expelling two Russian diplomats in solidarity with the global response to the poisoning of ex-spy Sergei Skripal in the UK earlier this month.
• The attack was the first offensive use of nerve agent in Europe since World War II.
• The decision follows more than a dozen other nations expelling Russian officials.

Australia said on Tuesday it would expel two Russian diplomats in response to the poisoning of ex-spy Sergei Skripal with a nerve agent in the UK earlier this month.

Two Russian diplomats identified as "undeclared intelligence officers" would be directed to leave Australia within seven days for "actions inconsistent with their status."

In a press conference, Prime Minister Malcom Turnbull called this a "shocking crime, a shocking infringement on the sovereignty of the UK."

"The brazen and criminal attack was an attack on all of us," Turnbull added.

According to a statement also released by the Prime Minister's office, the decision "takes into account advice from the UK Government that the substance used on March 4 was a military-grade nerve agent of a type developed by Russia."

The UK attack, which targeted Skripal at a busy shopping center, was the first offensive use of nerve agent in Europe since World War II.

"Such an attack cannot be tolerated by any sovereign nation," the statement said, adding that the assassination attempt was part of a "pattern of reckless and deliberate conduct by the Russian state."

Foreign Affairs minister Julie Bishop told reporters she expects Russia will expel a "commensurate" number of Australian diplomats in response, and that Australia is preparing for that situation to unfold at its Moscow Embassy.

Turnbull also touted a "long range" of further actions that could be taken in response to Russia's actions, including further sanctions and Australia's attendance at the World Cup in Russia.

The last time Australia expelled diplomats was in 2012, when Syria's highest ranking diplomat was ejected in response to atrocities committed by the government in Syria.

The decision follows several other nations expelling Russian officials in response to the attack.

Last week, the UK expelled 23 Russian diplomats and their families to Moscow, citing national security concerns. UK Prime Minister Theresa May claimed that those discharged were spies working under diplomatic cover.

The US followed suit with the expulsion of 60 Russian diplomats from the US-based Russian Embassy and permanent mission to the UN. The Wall Street Journal reported Monday the US also plans to close the Russian consulate in Seattle, which is located near a US naval facility.

More than a dozen other countries have joined calls to eject Russian officials. European Council President Donald Tusk said Russian diplomats were expelled from 14 European Union countries on Monday.

"Additional measures, including further sanctions within the common EU framework, cannot be excluded in the coming days and weeks," Tusk told reporters.

Australia has had strong sanctions in place against Russia since March 2014, in response to Russia's hostile annexation of Crimea. Expanded autonomous sanctions in relation to Russia, Crimea and Sevastopol were announced in September 2014.

In its statement, the Prime Minister's office also raised the issue of "bringing to justice" those responsible for MH17, the plane that was downed while flying over eastern Ukraine in 2014. </s> More expelled diplomats arrive in Moscow as Williamson warns of 'new era of warfare'

More expelled diplomats arrive in Moscow as Williamson warns of 'new era of warfare'

Russian diplomats and their family members from the US arrived in Moscow on Sunday

The first plane carrying Russian diplomats expelled from the US has landed in Moscow as the Defence Secretary warned the world had "entered a new era of warfare".

Gavin Williamson said if there was ever any doubt over the threat posed by Moscow "we only have to look at events in Salisbury, where our Armed Forces, including the RAF, have been responding to a cold-blooded chemical attack".

The UK has expelled 23 Russian diplomats in the wake of the poisoning of Mr Skripal, 66, and his daughter. A number of other countries followed suit, including America, Canada, Australia and more than a dozen EU nations.

Image: A minibus allegedly transporting expelled Russian diplomats

Theresa May has said it is "highly likely" Russia was involved in the attack which targeted former spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia with Russian-made nerve agent group novichok.

Moscow has denied any involvement in the case, which has caused a standoff between Britain and Russia.

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Mr Williamson said the Kremlin's response has been to "unleash a tidal wave of smears, lies and mockery".

Image: A number of other countries have also expelled Russian diplomats

The Defence Secretary, writing in the Sunday Telegraph to mark 100 years since the formation of the Royal Air Force, highlighted the conflicts in countries such as Yemen, Syria and North Korea, saying the world was becoming a "darker, more dangerous place".

"Then there is President Putin," he said.

Image: Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia were poisoned in Salisbury

"He is using more hybrid capabilities to subvert, undermine, and influence countries around the world. We have entered a new era of warfare".

He added: "It's vital for UK defence to keep evolving to meet the threats of tomorrow to keep our country safe and protect the hard-earned freedoms and way of life we enjoy today."

Mr Williamson called the attack on British soil "illegal and contemptuous", saying it endangered innocent lives.

He had previously told Russia it should "go away and shut up".

Defence Secretary: 'Russia should shut up'

The poisoning on 4 March sparked a global diplomatic spat. More than 100 Russian diplomats have been expelled by Western countries, including 23 from Britain.

Russia had already retaliated in kind by ejecting 23 British diplomats, and the Russian embassy in London published a list of 14 questions over the case.

Mr Skripal and his daughter were found slumped on a bench after being poisoned.

VR reconstruction of Russia spy's movements

Shop owners in Salisbury have said they are struggling in the wake of the attack which happened a month ago, with business down 90%. </s> MOSCOW: Moscow on Friday (Mar 30) issued tit-for-tat measures against countries that have expelled Russian diplomats in a mass show of support for Britain over the poisoning of a former double agent in England.

Russia announced the expulsion of diplomats from 23 countries, almost all of them European Union members, and told Britain to make unspecified "reductions" to its diplomatic staff.

Most of the ambassadors driven up to the front door of the Russian foreign ministry in flagged official cars on Friday came from EU countries.

Eighteen of the 28 EU countries have now expelled Russian diplomats and Moscow issued tit-for-tat measures against a majority of them.

The Netherlands was the first to announce that Russia was expelling two diplomats.

According to their officials and state broadcasters, Germany and Poland would be sending home four diplomats each, the Czech Republic and Lithuania three each, and Italy, Spain, Albania and Denmark would all have two expelled.

Latvia, Estonia, Croatia, Sweden, Romania, Ireland, Norway and Finland must each withdraw one diplomat. France was told it would have to send home four diplomats.

Ukraine was told 13 diplomats will have to leave, while Moldova had three expulsions confirmed.

Expulsions are expected for Canada, Australia and Macedonia after they were summoned to Russia's foreign ministry, but have not yet been confirmed.

Russia on Thursday separately announced it would expel 60 US diplomats and close the US consulate in Saint Petersburg.

Washington had earlier ordered 60 Russia diplomats to leave the country and shut down the Russian consulate general in Seattle.

Moscow has already expelled British diplomats but issued an additional punishment on Friday, saying London must cut its diplomatic presence within a month to the same as Russia has in the UK - without giving a number.

London has said that Moscow is "highly likely" behind the poisoning of Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia with a Soviet-developed nerve agent in the English city of Salisbury on Mar 4.

Britain has expelled 23 Russian diplomats, suspended high-level diplomatic contacts and vowed not send royal family members to the football World Cup hosted by Russia this summer.

Russia had already retaliated by expelling 23 British diplomats, closing a UK consulate in Saint Petersburg and shutting down the British Council educational and cultural organisation.

Slovakia, Malta, Bulgaria, Portugal and Luxembourg recalled their ambassadors to Russia for consultations this week, in a temporary measure to show disapproval.

Russia said it reserves the right to respond to countries that have recently announced expulsions of Russian diplomats: Belgium, Hungary, Georgia and Montenegro. </s> Nato has announced it is cutting the size of its Russian mission by a third, removing accreditation from seven Russian staff and rejecting three other pending applications.

The Nato secretary general, Jens Stoltenberg, said the permanent size of the Russian mission would be cut from 30 to 20 people, adding the announcement was “a clear and very strong message that there was a cost to Russia’s reckless actions” in poisoning the Russian double agent Sergei Skripal in Salisbury earlier this month.

He claimed Russia had underestimated Nato’s resolve and said the announcements would reduce Russia’s capability to do intelligence work across Nato.

The move came after more than 20 western allies ordered the expulsion of dozens of Russian diplomats in response to the nerve agent attack in the UK in a show of solidarity that represents the biggest concerted blow to Russian intelligence networks in the west since the cold war.

Speaking in Brussels at the end of consultations with Nato allies on Tuesday, Stoltenberg added that he did not think Russia had expected the west to show such resolve, pointing to the increased Nato military presence on the Russia border, higher defence spending and continued sanctions for Russia’s illegal annexation of Crimea.

He said the Nato response was aimed not just at the poisoning in Salisbury, the first use of a nerve agent on Nato territory, but a response to a broader pattern of unacceptable and illegal behaviour.

The US state department said that Donald Trump had “personally ordered” the expulsion of 60 Russian diplomats in Washington and New York who US intelligence believe to be spies, and the closure of the Russian consulate in Seattle. It was the biggest single expulsion order in US history.

The department’s spokeswoman, Heather Nauert, said that Washington had played a key role in organising the global response. US officials, she said “have worked tirelessly over the past three weeks to achieve this unprecedented level of cooperation and also coordination”.

Earlier on Tuesday the Russian foreign minister, Sergei Lavrov, claimed the US had used “colossal blackmail” to force European and other western powers to expel Russian diplomats, and promised Moscow would respond harshly to the expulsion of more than 100 Russian diplomats worldwide.

Speaking at a conference on Afghanistan in Tashkent, Lavrov said: “When one or two diplomats are asked to leave this or that country, with apologies being whispered into our ears, we know for certain that this is a result of colossal pressure and colossal blackmail, which is Washington’s chief instrument in the international scene.”

New Zealand says it would expel Russian spies ... but it can't find any Read more

Briefing the cabinet on Tuesday, the prime minister, Theresa May, reported that 23 countries had expelled more than 115 Russian intelligence diplomats. She told her cabinet colleagues this represented an unprecedented series of expulsions that has demonstrated to the Kremlin “that we will not tolerate their attempts to flout international law, undermine our values or threaten our security”.

Play Video 1:07 Theresa May: ‘largest collective expulsion of Russian intelligence officers in history’ – video

She added allies were not only taking these actions out of solidarity with the UK but also because they recognised the threat that these Russian networks pose to the security of their own countries and the pattern of aggression that had affected every country.



Only a handful of EU countries including Austria, Portugal, Greece and Malta, have declined to take any steps. Many countries have confined themselves to a tokenistic expulsion of a single diplomat, a move designed to register support for the UK, as opposed to causing disruption to the Russian state.



Britain is now waiting to see if other states follow May’s example and announce they will not be sending official delegations, as opposed to sporting teams, to the World Cup in Russia this summer. British officials acknowledge that public opinion in many countries, notably Germany, is not hostile to Russia, and there is a strict political limit to the sanctions the EU collectively is willing to take.
NATO and the government of Australia expel Russian diplomats.