Russia expels 20 German diplomats in tit-for-tat move

MOSCOW/BERLIN — Russia has announced the "reciprocal" expulsion of more than 20 German diplomats following the "mass" removal of Russian embassy staff from the country and accused Berlin of destroying ties.

Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova told state media on Saturday that those German diplomats would have to leave, as Berlin said some Russian diplomats had left Germany.

A German official said Berlin and Moscow had been in contact about their respective representations in the last few weeks with the aim of reducing Russia's intelligence presence in Germany, Reuters reported.