Russia Expels More British Diplomats

俄罗斯再次驱逐英国外交官

Russia ordered new cuts Friday to the number of British diplomats in the country. The move has worsened the clash between Russia and several European countries and the United States over the poisoning of a former Russian spy in Britain.

俄罗斯周五下令再次裁减英国驻俄外交官人数。此举加剧了俄罗斯同几个欧洲国家以及美国对前俄罗斯间谍在英国中毒事件的冲突。

On Thursday, Russia's Foreign Ministry announced the removal of 60 American diplomats, in answer to the United States' expulsion of the same number of Russian diplomats earlier this week.

俄罗斯外交部周四宣布驱逐60名美国外交官，以回应美国本周早些时候驱逐了同等数量的俄罗斯外交官。

The increased removal of diplomats on both sides has reached a level unseen even during the height of the Cold War.

双方不断驱逐外交官达到了冷战高峰时期也未达到的水平。

More than 20 countries and NATO have ordered the expulsion of over 150 Russian diplomats. The actions were meant as a show of support for Britain over the March 4 poisoning of former Russian spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter, Yulia, in the British city of Salisbury. Britain blamed the poisoning attack on Russia.

20多个国家和北约已经下令驱逐150多名俄罗斯外交官。此举是为了表明在3月4日英国索尔兹伯里市前俄罗斯间谍谢尔盖·斯克里帕尔(Sergei Skripal)及其女儿尤利娅中毒事件中对英国的支持。英国将这次毒化袭击归咎于俄罗斯。

Russia has strongly denied involvement in the poisoning. It also announced it would expel the same number of diplomats from each nation.

俄罗斯坚决否认涉及这起中毒事件。它还宣布将驱逐每个国家同等数量的外交官。

Russia's Foreign Ministry intensified the dispute Friday, saying it has ordered Britain to reduce its diplomats in Moscow to the number that Russia now has in London. The ministry has given Britain one month to take action.

俄罗斯外交部周五加剧这一争端，称俄罗斯已经命令英国将该国驻莫斯科外交官减少到跟俄罗斯驻伦敦外交官同等人数。俄罗斯外交部给了英国一个月时间采取行动。

In answer, a representative of the British Foreign Office said Russia's move was "regrettable" but expected, based on its earlier actions.

英国外交部一位代表回应称，基于之前的行为，俄罗斯此举“令人遗憾”但又早在预料之中。

A hospital treating the Skripals said Thursday that the daughter's condition was improving quickly. Her father, however, remains in critical condition.

负责治疗斯克里帕尔的医院周四表示，女儿的状况正在迅速改善，但是父亲仍然处于病危状态。

Dmitry Peskov, press secretary to Russian President Vladimir Putin, spoke with reporters on Friday. He said that "Russia didn't start any diplomatic wars," and "remains open for developing good ties."

俄罗斯总统普京的新闻秘书德米特里·佩斯科夫(Dmitry Peskov)周五对记者表示，“俄罗斯并未发起任何外交战争，”“仍然对发展良好关系持开放态度。”

He also said Russia has called a meeting with the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons next week to push for an "objective investigation."

他还表示，俄罗斯已经要求下周与禁止化学武器组织会晤，以推动“客观调查。”

Russia has accused Britain of failing to support its claims with evidence and refusing to share materials from its investigation. The Russian Foreign Ministry said it told the British ambassador on Friday that Moscow is ready to cooperate in the investigation.

俄罗斯指责英国未能以证据支持其言论，并且拒绝分享其调查材料。俄罗斯外交部周五对英国大使表示，莫斯科做好了配合调查的准备。

I'm Alice Bryant.

爱丽丝·布莱恩特报道。

Russia ordered new cuts Friday to the number of British diplomats in the country. The move has worsened the clash between Russia and several European countries and the United States over the poisoning of a former Russian spy in Britain.

On Thursday, Russia’s Foreign Ministry announced the removal of 60 American diplomats, in answer to the United States’ expulsion of the same number of Russian diplomats earlier this week.

The increased removal of diplomats on both sides has reached a level unseen even during the height of the Cold War.

More than 20 countries and NATO have ordered the expulsion of over 150 Russian diplomats. The actions were meant as a show of support for Britain over the March 4 poisoning of former Russian spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter, Yulia, in the British city of Salisbury. Britain blamed the poisoning attack on Russia.

Russia has strongly denied involvement in the poisoning. It also announced it would expel the same number of diplomats from each nation.

Russia’s Foreign Ministry intensified the dispute Friday, saying it has ordered Britain to reduce its diplomats in Moscow to the number that Russia now has in London. The ministry has given Britain one month to take action.

In answer, a representative of the British Foreign Office said Russia’s move was “regrettable” but expected, based on its earlier actions.

A hospital treating the Skripals said Thursday that the daughter’s condition was improving quickly. Her father, however, remains in critical condition.

Dmitry Peskov, press secretary to Russian President Vladimir Putin, spoke with reporters on Friday. He said that “Russia didn’t start any diplomatic wars,” and “remains open for developing good ties.”

He also said Russia has called a meeting with the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons next week to push for an “objective investigation.”

Russia has accused Britain of failing to support its claims with evidence and refusing to share materials from its investigation. The Russian Foreign Ministry said it told the British ambassador on Friday that Moscow is ready to cooperate in the investigation.

I'm Alice Bryant.

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Words in This Story

critical – adj. relating to or involving a great danger of death

prohibition – n. relating to or involving a great danger of death

objective – adj. based on facts rather than feelings or opinions