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The US embassy in Moscow: In future the only diplomatic mission in the country
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MLADEN ANTONOV / AFP
The administration of the outgoing US President Donald Trump wants to close the two remaining US consulates in Russia.
As the US State Department confirmed to the AFP news agency, the US representation in Vladivostok will be closed and the consulate in Ekaterinburg will cease operations for the time being.
After that, the embassy in Moscow would be the last US diplomatic mission in Russia.
According to the ministry, the decision to close the consulates was made after consultations with the US ambassador to Russia, John Sullivan.
It was about "ensuring the safe operation of the US diplomatic mission in the Russian Federation," said the ministry.
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The US TV broadcaster CNN had previously reported that the measure was a reaction to the staff limit that Russia had imposed on the US in 2017.
Because of this upper limit, a "stalemate" had arisen for the USA when applying for diplomatic visas.
Ten diplomats from the consulates concerned are now to be transferred to the embassy in Moscow, as confirmed by the US State Department.
33 Russian employees lose their jobs.
Increased tensions between countries
It remains unclear whether the closings will take place before future US President Joe Biden is sworn in on January 20.
Biden is currently preparing to take office amid heightened tensions between Russia and the United States.
In March 2018, Moscow ordered the closure of the US consulate in St. Petersburg following a dispute over the poison attack on former Russian double agent Sergei Skripal.
For its part, Washington does not want to take action against Russian representations in the United States.
Meanwhile, a large-scale cyber attack on US government agencies is causing new trouble between Washington and Moscow.
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said on Friday that Russia was "pretty sure" behind the attack.
Trump objected to Pompeo on Saturday and defended Russia.
Russia itself denies any involvement in the attacks.
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