Russia seizes two US properties, payback for sanctions

Moscow Friday impounded two American diplomatic properties and ordered the US embassy to reduce its staff by September, the day after the US Senate approved expanding economic sanctions against Russia, as well as Iran and North Korea. The bill, initially by the House, goes to President Donald Trump for signing into law. It is not clear if he will sign it.

The statement from the Russian Foreign Ministry said that the United States Embassy was asked to reduce its diplomatic and technical staff members in Russia to 455 by Sept. 1, matching the number of Russian diplomats in the United States.