Russia to respond over US expulsion

Move by Western countries is 'provocative', Moscow says

MOSCOW - Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said on Tuesday that Moscow would respond harshly to a US decision to expel Russian diplomats, but was still open to talks with Washington, the RIA news agency reported.

The United States announced on Monday it would expel 60 Russian diplomats, joining governments across Europe over a nerve agent attack on a former Russian spy in Britain that they have blamed on Moscow. Russia has denied such claims.