UK accuses Russia of driving its Moscow embassy towards closure

Foreign Office issues strongly worded statement as it responds to expulsion of two diplomats with tit-for-tat move

Russia is attempting to push the UK embassy in Moscow towards closing and has no regard for the escalatory impact of such a move, the Foreign Office has said.

The UK expelled a Russian diplomat and their spouse on Wednesday in a tit-for-tat response to the expulsion of two British diplomats for alleged espionage, a claim UK officials strenuously deny.