Russia expels 18 EU diplomats in retaliatory move

STORY: Russia expels 18 EU diplomats in retaliatory move DATELINE: April 16, 2022 LENGTH: 00:00:40 LOCATION: Moscow CATEGORY: POLITICS SHOTLIST: 1. STANDUP (English): MENG JING, Xinhua correspondent STORYLINE: STANDUP (English): MENG JING, Xinhua correspondent "Russia's foreign ministry said on Friday that the country expelled 18 European Union (EU) diplomats in a retaliatory move. The ministry said in a statement that it had summoned the head of the EU Delegation to Russia Markus Ederer in a protest over the EU's decision to declare 19 Russian diplomats 'personae non gratae' earlier this month. In response to the hostile actions of the European Union, 18 employees working at the EU Delegation to Russia have been declared 'personae non gratae' and will have to leave the territory of the Russian Federation in the near future." Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Moscow. (XHTV)