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23:18 GMT
WASHINGTON, Aug 31 (KUNA) -- The US decision requiring the Russian government to close its consulate general in San Francisco, a trade annex in Washington D.C. and a trade annex in New York City was "a firm and measured action."
The decision came "in response to Russia's unfortunate decision earlier this year," to downgrade the US diplomatic mission in Russia, the White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders said during a briefing on Thursday.
"We want to halt the downward spiral, and we want to move forward toward better relations. We'll look for opportunities to do that, but we also want to have equity in the decisions," she said.
Last month, Russia took steps to retaliate against proposed US sanctions for Moscow's suspected meddling in the 2016 US presidential elections, seizing two American diplomatic properties in Russia and ordering the US Embassy to reduce staff by September.
Those moves came a day after the US Senate approved a measure to expand economic sanctions against Russia, as well as against Iran and North Korea.
With large, veto-proof majorities in both congressional houses approving the action, President Donald Trump signed the measure into law.
The Russian closures in the US ordered Tuesday must be completed by Saturday, according to the State Department announcement. (pickup previous)
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