Austria expels Russian diplomats; France summons Russian envoy
In what amounts to one of the biggest diplomatic breakdowns in recent history, 4 Russian diplomats are being forced to leave Austria as France also summons Russia's envoy.
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French President Emmanuel Macron, right, with Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz, left.
A spokesperson for Austrian Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg announced that 4 Russian diplomats were being forced to leave Austria, joining a group of European Union countries that have taken similar action this week.
Unlike the other EU countries, including France, Italy, and Germany, the spokesperson did not state that the move was motivated by the war in Ukraine.
Schallenberg stated that the three diplomats working at Russia's embassy and one in Salzburg must leave the country by April 12.
On its account, the French government summoned Russia's ambassador to Paris for talks, on Thursday, after his embassy posted a photo on Twitter purporting to show a "film set" by Ukrainians staging civilian killings in Bucha.
On March 25, France summoned Russia's envoy, Alexey Meshkov, to protest "unacceptable" tweets from the embassy.
In what amounts to one of the biggest diplomatic breakdowns in recent history, 206 Russian diplomats and embassy staff have been told by governments in Poland, Italy, France, Germany, Greece, and other western countries that they are no longer welcome to stay.
Yesterday, the Hungarian foreign minister announced that Budapest summoned the Ukrainian ambassador to Hungary, saying "It is time for officials in Ukraine to stop insulting us."
