MOSCOW. Feb 18 (Interfax) - The deputy chief of the U.S. embassy to Russia was expelled in response to a provocation, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said.
On Friday, journalists asked Peskov for comment and wondered whether the Kremlin believes that such actions "escalate tensions, just like reports published by foreign media outlets and statements made by politicians."
"Speaking of the U.S. diplomat's expulsion, this is a retaliatory measure. This measure cannot be called provocative. It's a response to a provocation," Peskov said.