The US closes Russian visa centre and revokes diplomats' tax exemptions
The United States has notified Russian diplomats of plans to close the visa centre, reports Kommersant. Russian diplomats have also had their previously granted tax exemptions revoked.
The Russian ambassador to the USA, Anatoly Antonov, conveyed that Americans notified him that the Russian visa centre in Washington is set to be closed. Russian diplomats have also had their "tax exemption cards," which granted them tax privileges, revoked.
At the same time, the ambassador promised that the diplomats would continue to work and "devote all their efforts" to providing legal and consular support for Russians.
The ambassador spoke of the threat of direct conflict
In April, Anatoly Antonov gave an extensive interview with Newsweek. He assessed that military aid to Ukraine is associated with the threat of direct conflict between the USA and Russia. He reiterated the necessity of "demilitarisation and denazification of Ukraine."
Among other goals of Russia, he mentioned ensuring Ukraine has the status of a country free from nuclear weapons and remaining neutral, as well as stopping military activities ongoing since 2014.
New restrictions are not Russia’s only problem
In March, the US ambassador to Russia, Lynne Tracy, reported that the American diplomatic mission is discussing with Russian authorities the possibility of resuming some consular services, including issuing documents to Russians. Difficulties in issuing visas to the United States and the Russian Federation have arisen due to the mutual expulsion of diplomats.
It should be recalled that the United States recently announced a new broad package of sanctions targeting Vladimir Putin's war machine. The new restrictions include the Moscow Stock Exchange, among others.
Recently, the leaders of the G7 countries also agreed to provide Ukraine with £40 billion from the profits of the frozen Russian assets in the European Union and G7 countries, valued at about £256 billion.
