On Friday, the Russian Foreign Ministry asked the United States to reduce the number of the personnel of its embassy in Russia in line with the number of that of the Russian Embassy in the United States, estimated at 455, by September 1.
On Sunday, Russian President Vladimir Putin said that the diplomatic presence of the United States in Russia would be cut by 755 employees.
Russia's move came as a response to a series of measures implemented by the United States.
Last week, both chambers of the US Congress approved a bill imposing new sanctions on Russia, Iran and North Korea, as well as limiting US President Donald Trump's ability to lift the anti-Moscow restrictions. On Friday, the White House said Trump intended to sign the bill.
In December 2016, Washington adopted sanctions targeting Russia over its alleged interference in the US presidential election, something which Moscow has repeatedly denied, expelling 35 Russian diplomats and seizing two diplomatic compounds used by Russia.
