RUSSIA EXPELS US DIPLOMATS

• Russia seize two US properties

• Orders US to reduce diplomatic staffs in Moscow

• Putin threatens Russia will “have to retaliate” if the U.S. imposes new sanctions on Moscow

Moscow retaliated Friday for a new package of sanctions by the United States and ordered the expulsion of American diplomats and seized recreational property used by embassy staff.

Russia's foreign ministry announced the retaliatory measures after the Senate approved a package of financial sanctions against Russia, Iran and North Korea. The legislation, already approved by the House, bars President Trump from easing or waiving the penalties on Russia unless Congress agrees.

Trump, who is ensnared by allegations of Russian hacking and possible collusion by his campaign to help him win the presidential election last year, still has to sign off on the new measures. He previously objected to the curbs on his ability to ease sanctions on Russia, a possibility he has raised in the past.

The Russian foreign ministry told Washington to cut its diplomatic staff to 455 by Sept. 1 and said it would shutter a dacha, or country retreat, used by U.S. diplomatic staff on the outskirts of Moscow, as well as some warehouse facilities.

The State Department did not immediately respond to the move.

Russian President Vladimir Putin previously signaled that his country was prepared to hit back against Washington for what he called "anti-Russian hysteria."

The sanctions from Washington relate to Russia's 2014 annexation of Ukraine's Crimea territory and support for a rebellion by separatists in east Ukraine, as well as alleged Russian meddling in the 2016 presidential election.

They target Putin and his inner circle, a group that the U.S. alleges includes corrupt officials and human rights abusers. The sanctions also affect weapons sales and vital energy exports.

Russia's foreign ministry said the ordered cuts to U.S. diplomatic staff would mean the number of Russian embassy staff in the U.S. would be equal to Washington's. It was not immediately clear how many U.S. diplomats currently serve in Russia.

In a statement, the foreign ministry described the new sanctions as "creating unfair competitive advantages for the U.S. economy." The statement added: "This kind of blackmail aimed at restricting the cooperation between Russia and other nations is a threat for many countries and global businesses."

Before President Barack Obama left office, he ordered the seizure of two Russian diplomatic compounds and expelled 35 of its diplomats in response to alleged election interference, a claim that Moscow has consistently denied. Putin did not retaliate at the time in hopes that Trump would roll back the sanctions.

"The U.S. is stubbornly taking one crudely anti-Russian step after another, using the utterly fictitious pretext of Russian interference in its internal affairs," the statement from Russia's foreign ministry said. Moscow has said it will consider counter-sanctions of its own if Trump signs off on the new measures.